North Delhi gets all the Capital’s rain, east goes dry

The promise of surplus monsoon has so far evaded most parts of the national capital which has received 21% less than normal rainfall since June 1.

The promise of surplus monsoon has so far evaded most parts of the national capital which has received 21% less than normal rainfall since June 1.

According to the India Meteorological Department, east Delhi has been hit the worst with a deficit of 97%, while south and west Delhi have received normal rains and central Delhi barely makes in to the normal category. Only north Delhi has received excess showers, the weather office said. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

According to the India Meteorological Department, east Delhi has been hit the worst with a deficit of 97%, while south and west Delhi have received normal rains and central Delhi barely makes in to the normal category. Only north Delhi has received excess showers, the weather office said.

There, however, might be some respite in store this week with the Met Department predicting widespread rains on Tuesday and Thursday. The maximum temperature on Monday is expected to hover around 37 degree Celsius, coming down to 35 degrees in the next few days.

Delhiites had been reeling under a long, dry spell that started in October last year and continued till early March when the monsoon deficit touched 80%. Pre-monsoon showers in June helped narrow it down to 60%.

The onset of monsoon on July 3 — three days behind

schedule — was expected to rain relief on Delhiites but a few intermittent showers that ended up increasing humidity levels is all the city has got so far.

According to IMD forecast, the northwestern part of the country, which includes Delhi, is expected to receive above-normal rains this year with July and August making up for slow progress of monsoon.

“The monsoon made a late entry in Delhi and weakened immediately after. Over the past couple of days, parts of the city have seen rains. This week is going to be better. According to forecasts, July and August will see more than normal rains. For two years, a strong El Nino has also played its part in weakening the monsoon,” said a senior IMD official.