AGARTALA, July 23 (TIWN): Amid the peak of the four-month-long monsoon, five of the eight north-eastern States, including Assam, have received excess rain and the remaining three reported deficiencies. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists, the erratic monsoon is likely to affect both kharif and rabi crops in the region. As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sikkim has recorded plus 95 per cent rain, Meghalaya plus 52 per cent, Assam plus 20 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh plus 16 per cent and Tripura plus 2 per cent, whereas Manipur has recorded minus 46 per cent rain, Mizoram minus 32 per cent and Nagaland minus 27 per cent.

According to IMD officials, the June-September southwest monsoon is in full-swing in most parts of the mountainous north-eastern region.

IMD scientist Rajan Phukan said as the monsoon trough is active along the foothills of Himalayas, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya were experiencing good and heavy monsoon rain.

"Since Wednesday, due to the marginal shift of the monsoon trough, Manipur, Tripura and other north-eastern States might witness more rain. When the monsoon trough would be along the Bay of Bengal region, the rainfall would be lesser in the area," Phukan said.

He said since June 1 and till Wednesday, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Tripura recorded 894.4 mm, 1,012.7 mm, 2,278.7 mm, 1,423 mm and 763.2 mm rain, respectively, against the normal of 743.9 mm, 872.5 mm, 1,499.9 mm, 728.6 mm and 746 mm.

During this period (June 1 to July 22), Manipur witnessed the highest rain shortfall by recording 373.8 mm against the normal 693 mm, while Mizoram registered 505.6 mm rain against 742 mm, and Nagaland 416.2 mm against 572.2 mm.