Udupi district in coastal Karnataka faced a 29% overall deficit in the monsoon season, officials said, even after heavy showers in the first week of August lifted local hopes.
Data from the district disaster management centre show that June suffered a 50% shortfall, with only 558 mm recorded against a normal 1,106 mm. July followed with a 27% deficit, receiving 1,058 mm instead of the expected 1,448 mm. In August the gap narrowed to 10%, as 953 mm fell compared with the normal 1,064 mm.
The state disaster management centre reports that, apart from Belagavi and Bagalkot, every district in Karnataka experienced below‑normal rainfall. At the taluk level, Kundapura was the sole exception, receiving 934 mm against a normal 829 mm – a 13% excess.
Other taluks continued to lag: Karkala posted a 7% excess (1,067 mm vs 1,064 mm), while Udupi recorded a 6% deficit (733 mm against 781 mm). Bayanduru, Brahmavara, Kapu and Hebri registered deficits of 9%, 11%, 16% and 9% respectively, based on their normal‑rainfall benchmarks.
For the entire monsoon window of June 1 to August 31, the district was expected to receive 3,617 mm but only 2,569 mm fell, confirming the 29% shortfall. Taluk‑wise, the deficits were stark: Karkala 26% (2,732 mm of 3,695 mm), Kundapura 13% (2,693 mm of 3,002 mm), Udupi 29% (2,156 mm of 3,027 mm), Bayanduru 25% (2,616 mm of 3,496 mm), Brahmavara 35% (2,054 mm of 3,153 mm), Kapu 30% (2,024 mm of 2,879 mm) and Hebri 33% (3,194 mm of 4,753 mm).
Looking at the year‑to‑date period from January 1 to August 31, the district recorded a 28% deficit, with 2,738 mm of rain against an expected 3,818 mm. Taluk deficits for the same span ranged from 14% in Kundapura to 36% in Brahmavara.
Comparing with the previous year, August 2025 showed an 8% deficit, yet the three‑month monsoon (June‑August) registered a 4% excess and the January‑August total was 23% above normal, indicating a volatile rainfall pattern across years.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi