Several regions of Jharkhand, especially in the southern and northern parts of the state are expected to witness heavy showers during the next 72 hours.

IMD's Ranchi Meteorological Centre said on Sunday that the intensity of the rain will be more in south-western and northern Jharkhand covering three districts of the Kolhan region - East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan _ Chatra, Koderma, Latehar, Deoghar, Dumka and Godda.

"The monsoon has become active over Jharkhand and this will result in moderate to heavy showers in several parts of the state during the next three days," said Abhishek Anand, head of IMD's Ranchi Met Centre. It also issued a warning of light to moderate lightning and thunder in isolated areas during the next four days.

A biker negotiates waterlogged Kalimati Road at Sakchi in Jamshedpur on Sunday afternoon. Picture by Bhola Prasad

On Sunday, Jamshedpur, Khunti and several other places in southern Jharkhand experienced a good spell of rain, ranging between 10 mm and 20 mm. the showers were accompanied by winds blowing at an average speed of 20-25kmph. Overcast conditions prevailed in several other districts in central and northern parts including Ranchi, Koderma, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh.

Statistics revealed that several places like Dumka, Pakur, Bokaro, Jamtara , Ramgarh and Deoghar, experienced intermittent showers since Saturday evening due to an active monsoon. The rainfall brought respite from humid weather conditions, which most parts of the state had been witnessing for the last few days.

Waterlogged Kalimati Road at Sakchi in Jamshedpur after the rain on Sunday afternoon. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Met office forecasts suggest no significant change in maximum temperatures during the next four to five days. Most districts across Jharkhand have been witnessing maximum readings between 32 and 35 degree Celsius for the last two days.

So far, Jharkhand has received 369.1 mm of rain against a normal of 388.9 mm, which works out to a deficit of five per cent. Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Deoghar , Hazaribagh, Palamu, Koderma and several other districts figure in the rain gainers list while Ranchi , Bokaro, Chatra, Pakur, Garhwa, Godda, Gumla, Latehar, Simdega, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan district figure in the deficit list.