Monsoon rain in August significantly deficient in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31

Monsoon has not augured well for north India during the month of August this year, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting rains to be heavily deficient in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

From August 1 to August 31, rain in Punjab has been 56 per cent below the long period average, while in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, it has been below normal by 48 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively.

According to data compiled by IMD, Punjab received 69.9 mm rain in August against the normal of 160 mm for this period. Haryana received 82.4 mm while Himachal received 146.5 mm this month as compared to the normal of 157.2 mm and 262.3 mm, respectively, for the same period.

Nawanshahar, Faridkot and Bathinda were the only three districts in Punjab that received above normal rainfall in August. SAS Nagar was the worst hit with a deficiency of 81 per cent.

In Haryana, Mewat is the only district to receive surplus rain this month, with the deficiency in other districts ranging up to 83 per cent. In Himachal, rainfall remained below par in all districts, with Lahaul-Spiti in the upper reaches, recording a deficiency of 92 per cent, being the driest this month.  

As far as the entire monsoon season is concerned, Haryana is in the green, with the rain being eight per cent above normal from June 1 to August 31. On the other hand, Punjab and Himachal have recorded a deficiency of 24 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, for this entire season so far.

While the weatherman has forecast enhanced rainfall activity over many parts of western, central and peninsular India over the next few days, only a few isolated places in Haryana are expected to experience rain or thunderstorms.