 "Monsoon likely to reach Jharkhand between June 18-21: IMD Officials")
A meteorological department official said on Thursday that the monsoon, which is important for agriculture is likely to hit Jharkhand between June 18 and 21 providing relief to the state's residents from the current heat.
On June 12, the monsoon reached the northeastern district of Sahibganj, but "it did not proceed further as conditions were not favourable," according to Abhishek Anand, the director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre. He further added that the eastern region is likely to see favourable conditions for the monsoon to continue moving eastward starting on June 18. Between June 18 and June 21, it may enter Jharkhand.
Monsoon in Jharkhand: Overview
According to Anand, “The mercury level has been hovering around 40 degrees Celsius for the past few days, and it is likely that the situation will remain the same for at least the next four days”.
The official stated that parts of the state may experience a heatwave until June 18, thereafter brief showers may provide relief from the heat. The monsoon typically arrives in the state around June 10. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature reached 44.7 degrees Celsius in the Godda district of Jharkhand, followed by Daltonganj at 44 degrees Celsius, Deoghar at 43.2 degrees Celsius, Jamshedpur at 42.2 degrees Celsius, and Ranchi, the state capital at 39.4 degrees Celsius.
The heatwave caused the Jharkhand government to extend the summer vacation for all class 8th students until June 17 on Wednesday. However, according to an order issued by K Ravi Kumar, secretary of the school education and literacy department, schools reopened on Thursday for students in classes 9 to 12. The state government had previously announced that all schools would have three days off starting from June 12.