Jharkhand entered a rain deficit phase on Sunday due to weak monsoon activity in the past 72 hours.

Statistics revealed that against a normal of 745.2 mm, the state has so far recorded 728.6 mm rain, a deficit of two per cent.

This was for the second time this monsoon, Jharkhand entered a rain deficit phase.

On July 16, Jharkhand had encountered this monsoon's first deficit rain.

According to Met data, as many as 10 out of 24 districts, figure in the rain deficit list as of Sunday.

The districts that are facing a rain deficit are Chatra, Bokaro, Garhwa, Godda, Gumla, Khunti, Pakur, Seraikela- Kharsawan, Simdega and West Singhbhum.

Gumla and Simdega are facing the maximum rain deficit of 39 and 28 per cent respectively.

Rest of the 12 districts including Ranchi, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Hazaribagh and all the three districts of Kolhan- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan figures in the rain surplus list.

Notably, around mid-June, soon after the onset of the south-east monsoon, the surplus rain in Jharkhand had touched 109 per cent. At that time, the monsoon was described as being "vigorous" in nature.

Towards the end of June, the rainfall activity over the state reduced as the monsoon entered into a weak phase.

Monsoon revived and became active around July 7, resulting in widespread rain till July 11. After that rainfall activity again got gradually reduced.

The last three days of July witnessed heavy rain in several parts of the state.

August began well with most districts experiencing a good spell of rain. Rainfall activity got refuced in the second week because of a break- monsoon situation.

Monsoon again revived from August 15 resulting in a good spell of rain till August 17 after that reduced rainfall activity promoted the state to again enter into a deficit phase.

Data revealed that only three Met observatories based at Messanjore in Dumka, Maheshpur in Pakur , Garhwa and Jamshedpur recorded light to moderate rain during the past 48 hours.

Head of Ranchi Meteorological Centre Abhishek Anand said reduced rainfall during the past few days led to the deficit. "Most districts of Jharkhand have been experiencing light to moderate rain for the last 72 hours. The reduced rainfall activity has led to deficit rain in several districts," he said.

Weathermen said no significant weather system prevails over the state and that most districts would witness cloudy sky with one or two spells of light to moderate rain.

According to weathermen, there would also be no significant change in both day and night temperature during the next 72 hours.

The monsoon trough was on Sunday passing through Bikaner, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Patna and Nagaland.

Satellite pictures indicated that the western end of the monsoon trough lies to the south of its normal position and the eastern end lies to the north of its normal position. The western end is likely to shift gradually northwards from Monday.