Kohima: Nagaland is struggling through a severe dry spell. Ten of the state's 11 districts report rainfall below normal since the monsoon began on June 1. The data, provided by the India Meteorological Department, confirms a statewide deficit of 49 percent.
Longleng is the hardest hit. It received a meager 0.2 millimetres of rain against a normal of 301 millimetres. That drop puts the district in the no rain category. Zunheboto follows closely with a 98 percent shortfall. Tuensang and Dimapur also report large deficits.
Kiphire remains the only district with normal rainfall, holding an 11 percent deficit. The dry weather follows a trend from earlier this year. Nagaland previously recorded a 94 percent rainfall deficit between January and February.
July offers a sliver of hope. Rain totals in the first two days of the month improved in several areas. Kohima and Phek recorded large excess rainfall. Wokha, Mokokchung, and Kiphire also saw gains. State officials are watching the situation closely.
The national government is also taking note. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with the Union Cabinet to address the regional dry weather. Reports indicate that the prime minister requested that ministries prepare contingency plans in the wake of "India's driest June in 12 years" as rainfall remained significantly below normal.
The IMD expects that trend to change. Meteorologists forecast widespread rainfall across the state through July 8. Isolated heavy rain may hit the region as early as July 4. While the outlook for the rest of the country remains dry, the Northeast may dodge the trend.
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