Bhubaneswar, Sept. 3: The state's average rainfall in August was 17.4 per cent less than the long-term average despite heavy rainfall being recorded in many districts and flash floods taking place in Malkangiri.

Odisha's special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said: 'Odisha has received an average rainfall of 293.9mm against the long term average of 356mm, a shortfall of 17.4 per cent.'

Malkangiri received the highest rainfall at 493.8mm and Boudh received the lowest at 192mm last month.

Considering rainfall in the past three months (June to August) together, the state recorded 842.4mm as compared to the long-term average of 912.4mm, a 7.7 per cent shortfall.

Director of Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorology Centre Sarat Sahu said: 'Though the state has recorded 17.4 per cent less rainfall compared to the long term average, it is not alarming. During the past three months (June-August), Odisha has received a good amount of rainfall at almost uniform intervals this year and this is favourable for crops.'

Ruling out the possibility of drought in general in this year, Sahu said there was likelihood of good rainfall from September 5-6 again.

'There has been 80 to 85 per cent moisture in the atmosphere,' he said, adding that there might be some isolated pockets that have received deficit rainfall.

The state had last experienced drought in 2015 with as many as 12 districts being declared drought-hit and the state government had sought Rs 3,500 crore assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund.

This year, 10 districts - Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Bargarh, Sonepur, Nuapada, Jajpur, Balangir, Boudh, Angul and Dhenkanal - have received deficit rainfall ranging between 19 and 39 per cent during the period from June 1 and August 31.

As many as 75 of the state's total 314 blocks have received 19 to 39 per cent deficit rainfall, 24 blocks severe deficit rainfall (minus 39 to 59 per cent) and two blocks (Odapada in Dhenkanal district and Kaniha in Angul district) experienced scanty rainfall (more than 59 per cent deficit) during these three months cumulatively. On the other hand, two districts (Gajapati and Ganjam) received surplus rainfall of more than 19 per cent during the period and 18 districts got normal rainfall. These are Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Khurda, Koraput, Puri, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Nayagarh, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Bhadrak.