Overnight rain brings relief to Annamayya, but the district’s monsoon deficit stands at 51%

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Heavy rain lashed Annamayya district on Monday night and continued till the early hours of Tuesday (October 6, 2026), with 25 mandals of the district recording an average of about 41 mm in a single day, bringing the much-needed spell of relief after months of rainfall deficiency.

The rain is being viewed as significant against the backdrop of El Nino conditions, which have contributed to an erratic monsoon pattern and heightened concerns over water availability and agricultural prospects. “The latest spell can provide a crucial boost to soil moisture, support to standing crops and groundwater recharge across the drought-prone district,” said an irrigation department official in Rayachoti.

According to official data, the district averaged 41.4 mm from October 1 to 6, against a normal of 46.3 mm.

The rain was unevenly distributed. Valmikipuram mandal recorded the highest cumulative rainfall for October at 98.2 mm, followed by Rayachoti with 88.6 mm and Mulakalacheruvu with 82 mm. Somala received 70 mm, and Ramasamudram and Punganur recorded 65.2 mm and 52.4 mm respectively.

But the district’s overall rainfall situation continues to be a concern, the officials said. From June 1 to the end of September, Annamayya district received only 209.7 mm against a normal of 427.7 mm, leaving a deficit of 51%.

Elsewhere in the State, in the 24 hours to 8.30 a.m. on Monday, the highest reading was 68 mm at Butchayyapeta in Anakapalli district, the only station in the State to record heavy rain in that period, according to provisional data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. No station in Parvathipuram Manyam or Markapuram districts recorded rain.

For farmers, the latest rain offers a welcome respite, but officials said they would watch the situation closely, since the substantial seasonal deficit remains to be made up.

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