Rainfall in Agumbe, popularly known as the Cheerapunji of the South, and Hulikal, both in Shimoga district, has surpassed that of the actual Cheerapunji, now called Sohra in Meghalaya.
Surprisingly, while it is common that Agumbe generally surpasses Cheerapunji, Hulikal actually receives more rain than even Agumbe. Between June and July this year, Agumbe received 5,625.4 mm of rain while Hulikal received 6,220 mm as against the 3,384.5 mm in Cheerapunji.
Agumbe is situated in Tirthahalli taluk while Hulikal is in Hosanagara taluk. Both these places fall in the forest region in the Western Ghats. The two towns are also located about 30 km from each other. As per Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) records, the average rain in Agumbe was 7,724 mm while it is 8,007 mm in Hulikal.
Bridget Verghese, assistant director of the district statistical department told Express that as per records, Hulikal received more rain than Agumbe. In the rainfall recorded in the last 23 years, Hulikal recorded the highest in 18 years barring 1995, 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2008. Hulikal also received rain on more number of days than Agumbe between 2008 and 2013 (till end of July). This year, Sohra received around 40 per cent deficit rain during the last two months and sources in the department attribute it to rampant deforestation in the region.
“It is a box effect. The conditions are so favourable this year that we are already seeing the 12th low pressure area formation in oceans. Whereas, last year, it was just 2-3 low pressure areas that resulted in heavy rain,” said IMD director Puttanna. Cheerapunji holds the record of having the highest rain in any place with 24,555.3 mm in 1974.
“The state as a whole received excess rain this year. Agumbe received 30 per cent excess rain as compared to normal,” he added.