Satellite captures strange image, rain deficit at 11%

New Delhi: India’s southwest monsoon continues to display an uneven pattern despite signs of gradual recovery, with the latest satellite imagery from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) capturing a striking contrast in cloud distribution across the country.

While dense cloud bands covered western and central parts of the country, large stretches of northwest and Indo-Gangetic plains remained relatively cloud-free, highlighting the patchy nature of this year’s monsoon.

According to the IMD’s latest rainfall data, India has received 395.5 mm of rainfall against the normal 446.3 mm since June 4, leaving the country with an overall seasonal deficit of 11%. Although the nationwide shortfall has narrowed considerably from the severe deficits seen in June, the recovery has remained uneven, with several Hindi belt states continuing to report below-normal rainfall.

The satellite image taken by INSAT-3DS on Saturday morning showed an active weather system over western India, where a depression has been driving widespread rainfall over Gujarat and adjoining regions.