Southwest monsoon monsoon withdraws from Himachal Pradesh, second highest deficit in 10 years

SHIMLA: The southwest monsoon today withdrew from Himachal Pradesh, even as the weatherman said that the state recorded the second highest rain deficit in last ten years at 38 per cent from June 1 to September 30 this year.

"Southwest monsoon has withdrawn from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, west and east Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, north Arabian Sea, Uttarakhand besides parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh," Director of the local MeT office Manmohan Singh said here.

Himachal Pradesh received 521.8 mm rains against normal rainfall of 843.5 mm during the monsoon season, which is 38 per cent less.

"This is the second highest deficit in last ten years after 2004 when the state received 46 per cent deficient rains," Singh said, adding that July was the wettest month with 214.4 mm rainfall (31 per cent) recorded .

Only four districts of Una (863.4 mm), Hamirpur (890.0 mm), Mandi (1050.8 mm) and Shimla (555.9 mm) received normal rainfall during this monsoon season, he added.

Kinnaur district received the lowest rainfall of 47.8 mm, which was 82 per cent less than normal. Lahaul and Spiti received 92.2 mm rains, 80 per cent less than normal.

The Chamba district, which normally receives 1404.4 mm rains, experienced 469.4 mm rains, a deficit of 67 per cent.

Sirmaur and Kangra districts received 873.4 mm and 1052.2 mm of rainfall against normal rainfall of 1324.6 mm and 1582.1 mm respectively, which is 34 and 33 per cent deficient.