India under acute water crisis, 80 percent of reservoirs below normal storage

84% of the meteorological subdivisions in India have recorded below normal rainfall this season, leading to the acute water crisis.

According to data provided by the Central Water Commission, of the 91 major reservoirs in the country, 80% have storage below normal. Of these, 11 have 0% storage, making the water crisis acute.

While the official rainfall season starts on June 1 and lasts through September 30, the overall monsoon deficiency until June 22 still remains around 39%.

Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions, 25% have recorded “deficient” rainfall, while 6 subdivisions recorded precipitation classified under the 'large deficient' category.

The situation is expected to improve with southwest monsoon advancing into east Uttar Pradesh, parts of central Maharashtra and most parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha.

Featured image: Hideyuki Kamon