Highest rain deficit in September in Himachal

Tribune News Service

Solan, September 20

As much as 22.32 per cent deficit rain has been received this monsoon with the month of September having the highest deficit of 96.2 mm as per the observations of the department of environment, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni.

In the month of June as against the expected normal rainfall of 148.8 mm, 58.7 mm was received and the rain deficit was as much as 60.6 per cent. Only in the month of July, 15.5 per cent higher rainfall was higher than the normal with 278.1 mm rain having been received while the expected rain was 240.8 mm.

In August, the deficit rain was as high as 35.2 per cent with 148.6 mm rain having been received as against the normal expected rain of 229.2 mm. The highest rain deficit of 96.2 per cent has been registered till now in September with merely 1.6 mm rain having been received as against 42.2 mm normal rainfall.

Dr Satish Bhardwaj, professor and head of the Department of Environment, said, “Some rain is expected to lash the region in the days to come and the monsoon has not retracted as of now. Total deviation of 22.32 per cent rain has been registered this monsoon until now.”

He added that, “The maximum rain is received in July and August months and since there has been a deficit of 35.2 per cent in August it was a cause of concern. Nearly 70 per cent of the rain received in a year is attributed to the monsoon season and it is important for the recharge of the ground water sources.”