Chennai: As the southwest monsoon withdraws from the country, the story was grim for the southern states in terms of rainfall. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and the Union Territory of Puducherry received 50 per cent deficient rain at the end of the season.

The Regional Meteorological Centre’s latest statistics on Sunday noted that Karnataka is the most rain difficient state among its neighbours, as it received 68 per cent less rainfall. Except for Bidar, which received an excess of about 100 per cent rainfall, all other districts, especially Gadag region received 99 per cent less rain. Against its normal of 95 mm, the state received only 30 mm rainfall.

Tamil Nadu saw a “large deficit”, according to Met department findings from October 1 to date; the state received 66 per cent less rain. Tuticorin was the most rainfall deficient district with the region registering 95 per cent less rain. On the whole, the state received 35 mm rainfall against the normal of 103 mm.

Similarly, Andhra Pradesh also went dry at the end of the southwest monsoon, as the state received 67 per cent less rainfall, with Nellore district leading the list with less rainfall of about 90 per cent. The normal rainfall for the state is 108 mm. However, it received only 35 mm rainfall this season.

Interestingly, Kerala, which is in the western region and receives good rain during the southwest monsoon, also received 66 per cent less rain. Thiruvanathapuram was the most affected district, with 88 per cent deficiency.

Though Telangana received about 50 per cent less rainfall, more then five districts, including Adilabad received excess rainfall of more than 70 per cent. Puducherry also received less rainfall of about 80 per cent

A senior met official said that change in climatic pattern is the main reason for less rain this southwest monsoon. According to him, last year the southwest monsoon was normal in most of the southern states.