Ranchi: The state recorded 48.1 mm rainfall from 8.30 am on Tuesday to 8.30 am on Wednesday, against the usual rainfall of 7.9 mm it usually gets, as the southwest monsoon covered the entire state, said officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. An IMD weather bulletin on Wednesday issued red alert for five districts — Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, and Lohardaga — for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall for Thursday and Friday. On both days, an orange alert is issued for nine districts.The widespread rainfall was caused across the state under the influence of southwest monsoon currents that had set in Jharkhand on Tuesday.In view of the widespread rainfall and red alert issued by the IMD, the Ranchi district administration announced the closure of all govt and private schools in Ranchi, including aided and unaided institutions, from kindergarten to Class XII, on Thursday.Ranchi IMD deputy director Abhishek Anand told TOI, "Since the onset of the monsoon on Tuesday, the state recorded 48.1 mm rainfall, marking a 509% departure from the normal rainfall of 7.9 mm. This is perhaps the third highest rainfall in June in Jharkhand's history. Although some parts of the state did not experience rain on Tuesday, rain lashed all the districts on Wednesday. Meanwhile, southwest monsoon, which has arrived in the state on Tuesday, has covered the entire state on Wednesday.

"According to IMD's statistics, in the current monsoon season, from June 1 till Wednesday, Jharkhand has received an average of 80.4 mm rainfall, a seven per cent increase from the normal rainfall of 74.9 mm.During the period, Latehar received the large excess rainfall, 118 mm marking 88% departure from the normal. While Lohardaga, Ranchi, Khunti, Sahibganj, Simdega and Saraikela Kharsawan, Dhanbad and Jamtara experienced excess rainfall.

Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Giridih, East Singhbhum and Godda districts received deficit rainfall and Garhwa experienced large deficient rainfall.Jamshedpur recorded the highest rainfall in the state on Wednesday with 68.8 mm, followed by 47.2 mm in Ranchi, 23 mm in Chaibasa, 20.6 mm in Bokaro and 3 mm in Daltonganj. Saraikela recorded 54 mm, Simdega 36.5 mm, Khunti 19.5 mm, Hazaribag 22 mm.