VISAKHAPATNAM: It was a short spell, but made a big it difference to the overall rainfall situation in North Andhra. The rains that lashed Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam — the three districts of North Andhra — not only came as a big relief but changed the rainfall status of many mandals from scanty and deficient rainfall to Normal and Excess status.
According to the Revenue department, out of the 115 mandals in the region as many as 42 mandals received deficient and scanty rains till August 26. The latest spell of rain in the last six days improved the situation in 23 of the 42 rain-deficiet mandals. With the delayed and disturbed southwest monsoon, the entire region had an overall deficit of rain. The situation improved drastically with the rains in the third spell of the southwest monsoon but still several areas received deficient rainfall.
Slow Progress for V’nagaram
Fourten mandals out of 34 in Vizianagaram district were in deficient category in the month of August. Scanty rainfall had affected both irrigation and drinking water needs. According to the latest rain stats, as many as 17 mandals have received excess rainfall while 12 have received normal rains and five are still in deficient status. Surprisingly, Komarada and Balajipeta mandals which have been listed with -35 and -39 deficient rainfall are now in the excess category.
Vizag Dist Lags Behind its two Neighbours in the Region
The rain status is not all that great in Visakhapatnam district. According to the cumulative statistics till September 1, as many as 12 mandals are still under deficient category. In June, there was not even one millimetre of rainfall in the Madugula mandal and as many as 35 mandals out of 43 were in scanty status. However, with the situation improving in the last six days, around 11 mandals are now in excess category while 20 mandals are in normal and 12 mandals have received deficient rain.
Good Spell for S’kulam This Season
The district had good spell of rains the entire season with 36 out of 38 mandals receiving excess to normal rains. Only two mandals - Burja and Vajrapukothuru - have received deficient rains.