India 's weak monsoon worries: National rain deficit stands at 42 per cent in June

June 29, 2014

Indias monsoon
New Delhi, Jun 29: The national cumulative average of rainfall in June is deficient by a whopping 42 per cent, making it only the 12th instance in the past 113 years when rain shortfall was over 30 per cent in the month, according to a private forecasting agency.

States like Gujarat and Rajasthan have over 80 per cent of deficient rain.

The respite is that monsoon is likely to revive in the first week of July and rain is expected in the national capital and northwest plains from July 5, the agency added.

"As of now, the national cumulative average monsoon rain is deficient by a whopping 42 per cent, making it only the 12th instance in last 113 years when rainfall deficit has been over 30 per cent in the month," Skymet, a private forecasting agency said.

"Gujarat is reeling under extreme dry weather conditions and the deficit here has mounted to 88 from 78 per cent till June 17. Similarly, even Rajasthan is facing a huge deficit," it said.

"The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) continues to pass through Veraval, Surat, Nashik, Wasim, Damoh and Sultanpur.

The western arm, passing through Veraval, Surat and Nasik has been stagnant for the 13th consecutive day," it said. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall in the country has made marginal progress as compared to last week. It received 74.4 mm of rainfall from June 1 to June 25, as compared to normal precipitation of 124.5 mm, which is 40 per cent less.

The IMD says the rainfall recorded from June 1 to June 18 in the country was 45 per cent less that what was expected in its first spell. It received 43.4 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rain of 78.8 mm from June 1 to June 17.

Central and northwest India continued to receive less rainfall from June 1 to June 25. Northwest India received 25.0 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rainfall of 48.3, which is 48 per cent less while central India received 51.4 mm as compared to normal rainfall of 118.9 mm, which is 57 per cent less.

MET department has also said that the monsoon will revive in the first week of July.

"A fresh western disturbance would affect northwest India in the beginning of July. We are expecting mild interaction of monsoon and western disturbance and this will help in advancement of monsoon in Northern Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu division," B P Yadav, Director, IMD.

According to Skymet's Meteorology Division in India, cumulative rain deficit has been increasing in Konkan and Goa, which at present stands at 56 per cent short of monsoon rain.

Rain deficiency in coastal Karnataka is 35 per cent and Kerala about 24 per cent but the present weather system could mitigate this deficit rain to some extent.

Some good news for the west coast is a fresh surge in the Arabian Sea that could bring monsoon showers along the coastline by July 1.

However, south, east and northeast India have received better rainfall as compared to other parts of the region.

"The Southern Peninsula received 90.3 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rainfall of 126.0 mm, which is 28 per cent less while the East and northeast India received 198.8 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rainfall of 281.3 mm, 29 per cent less," the IMD said.

The cyclonic circulation near the coastal parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will continue to bring good monsoon rain over Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and will engulf interiors of Telangana, south Odisha, Telangana and Vidarbha.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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