A day after images of Ganesh idols placed on the dry bed of the Chitravati River in Anantapur district drew attention to the region’s water shortage, rain brought relief to parts of Rayalaseema.
Devotees in Puttlur and nearby areas had struggled to find water for the customary Ganesh immersion. Reports from the area said some idols were left on dry riverbeds and in empty water bodies after devotees prayed for rain.
Rain followed soon after. The India Meteorological Department recorded 48.6 mm of rainfall at its Anantapur station in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on September 20. The IMD also forecast more rain and thunderstorms in the district over the following days.
State rainfall data shows why the showers mattered. Ananthapuramu had received 175.1 mm between June 1 and September 21, against a normal 275.7 mm, leaving the district with a 36.5% deficit. Andhra Pradesh as a whole was 47.5% below normal during the same period.
The district has a long history of low and variable rainfall. A 140-year analysis of rainfall at Ananthapuramu found a declining trend in monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall over the study period from 1877 to 2016.
Another long-term study puts Anantapuramu’s normal annual rainfall at 553 mm. The southwest monsoon normally contributes about 338 mm, while the northeast monsoon contributes about 156 mm. The district’s location away from the east coast and the Western Ghats’ effect on southwest monsoon penetration contribute to its low rainfall.
The Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society’s district report gives a lower average annual figure of 521.49 mm for 1998-2021. It records September as the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 118.96 mm.
The Chitravati’s dry riverbed is therefore part of a wider pattern of seasonal water stress. The recent rain may have brought temporary relief to farmers and residents, but it has not erased the district’s rainfall deficit.
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