Haryana records 31.3 mm average rainfall

Widespread rainfall was recorded across Haryana, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting an average rainfall of 31.3 mm in the state. The normal rainfall for September 3 is 3.4 mm, and today’s rain was 821 per cent more than normal.

The overall rainfall since June 1 to date has been 529.7 mm, 47 per cent above normal.

The worst-affected district today was Kurukshetra, where 89.4 mm of rainfall was recorded, followed by Panipat (86.3 mm).

Ambala received 78.4 mm of rainfall, followed by Panchkula (63.9 mm), Sonepat (61.4 mm), Hisar (46.9 mm), Kaithal (42.1 mm), and Yamunanagar (43.6 mm) — among the "large excess" rainfall districts.

Barring Faridabad (4.7 mm rainfall), which was 17 per cent below normal, the rest of the 21 districts received “large excess” rainfall. When the percentage difference from normal rainfall is 60 percent or more, it is classified as "large excess", as per IMD criteria.

Director, IMD Chandigarh, Surender Paul, said, “Light to moderate rain occurred at most places with spells of heavy to very heavy at isolated places in Haryana. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places over Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh, and Palwal districts tomorrow. They are under yellow alert.”

“In the coming three to four days, rainfall activity will reduce in Haryana. The current weather phenomenon is due to the clubbing of monsoon and western disturbances,” he said.

Meanwhile, to provide relief to farmers affected by floods and waterlogging, the government has decided to keep the e-Kshatipurti portal open till September 15. Farmers can upload details of losses to their kharif crops and file compensation claims.

So far, claims have been filed for crop damage on nearly 5 lakh acres by over 82,000 farmers across 1,961 villages in the state. The maximum registration is noted in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri districts, where over 90,000 acres have been registered by farmers for crop damage.

State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Vipul Goel today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the situation arising from “large excess” rainfall and preparations for flood management in the state. The meeting reviewed the functioning of flood control rooms, the availability of relief material, and rescue equipment.

The state has received an allocation of about Rs 636 crore this year under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), to be utilised for disaster management and relief works. Additionally, all Deputy Commissioners have been allocated reserve funds to ensure a prompt emergency response, and the Public Health Engineering Department has been provided with a special reserve fund to address waterlogging.

Goel informed that the first battalion of IRB, Bhondsi, comprising 950 personnel, had been designated as the Haryana State Disaster Response Force (HSDRF). The force was ready for immediate relief and rescue operations in disaster-affected areas. For rescue operations in flood-affected areas, 151 boats had been deployed to help evacuate people.