State reels under wettest monsoon in three decades

In Himachal, this monsoon season will go down as one of the wettest ever. Already, the state has received over 1,010 mm of rainfall this monsoon, the highest in the past three decades. The last time Himachal received more rainfall than this year was in 1995 when it recorded 1,029 mm of rainfall. Given that the monsoon normally retreats from the state in the last week of September, there’s a fair chance that the 1995 record will be broken this time.

The region had recorded the highest rain of 1,314 mm in 1922. “If we see the record since 1901, it’s only on a few occasions that that rainfall in the state has crossed the 1,000 mm mark,” said an official of the Weather Department.

The average rainfall during the monsoon season in the state is around 734 mm. The state has already seen over 46 per cent more than normal rainfall. Against the normal rainfall of 692 mm it receives till mid-September, the hill state has already recorded 1,010 mm of rain. Except for Lahaul and Spiti district, which has received 16 per cent less than normal rainfall, all districts have received excess rain. Shimla and Kullu districts have recorded the highest deviation of 109 per cent and 108 per cent, respectively.

Just like in August, this month is also witnessing excessive rainfall. From September 1 to 16, the state has received 194 mm of rainfall against the normal rainfall of 78.3mm, which translates into 148 per cent higher than normal rainfall. No wonder, several parts of the state continue to see extreme-weather events like landslides and flashfloods even at the fag end of the monsoon season. In August, the state had received the highest rainfall since 1949, recording 68 per cent more than normal rainfall.

The state reeling under excess rainfall and frequent extreme-weather events like cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides can look forward to relief from September 19 onwards. “The rain activity will start reducing from Wednesday but the major relief will come from September 19,” said the official.

Relief from September 19

• The state recorded 1,029 mm of rainfall In 1995
• The region had recorded the highest precipitation of 1,314 mm rain in 1922
• The average monsoon rainfall in the state is around 734 mm
• The state has already seen over 46 per cent more than normal rainfall
• The rain activity will start reducing from Wednesday but the major relief will come from September 19