Night rain brings relief to Annamayi, but district’s monsoon deficit stands at 51%

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

The rain is considered significant against the backdrop of El Nino conditions that have contributed to an erratic monsoon pattern and raised concerns about water availability and agricultural prospects. “The latest spell can provide a major boost to soil moisture, support to standing crops and recharge of groundwater in the entire drought-prone region,” said an official of the Rayachoti Irrigation Department.

According to official data, the district averaged 41.4 mm from October 1 to 6, against the 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 at 88.6 mm and Mulakalacheruvu at 82 mm. Somala received 70 mm and Ramasamudram and Punganur recorded 65.2 mm and 52.4 mm respectively.

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

Elsewhere in the state, the highest reading in the 24 hours till 8:30 am on Monday was 68 mm at Butchayyapeta in Anakapalli district, the only station in the state to record heavy rain during the period, according to preliminary data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics. No station in Parvathipuram Manyam or Markapuram districts recorded rain.

The latest rain offers welcome relief to farmers, but officials said they would monitor the situation closely as a sizeable seasonal deficit remains to be made up.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 11:38 IST