20 per cent deficient rainfall in HP

Shimla, Sep 11 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh recorded 20 per cent deficient rainfall during the monsoon season this year even as an extended monsoon continued to pound several mid and lower hills of the state in the last 24 hrs, the met office said today.

Himachal Pradesh recorded 20 per cent less rainfall during the monsoon season this year from June 1 to September 1, Shimla Meteorological Centre head Manmohan Singh told UNI here.

He said seven districts of Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, Mandi, Sirmaur, Kangra and Solan recorded deficient rainfall, while five districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kinnuar, Shimla and Una received excess rainfall during the monsoon period.

The Lahaul Spiti district received 84 per cent deficient rains, followed by 28 per cent rains in Solan district, 27 per cent in Kullu district and 19 per cent less in Sirmaur district of the state.

Mr Sharma said the Chamba and Kangra districts received 14 and 11 per cent deficient rains respectively from June 1 to September 1.

The Una district of the state recorded 45 per cent excess rains followed by 19 per cent in Shimla district, 15 per cent in Bilaspur district, 11 per cent in Hamirpur and two per cent in Kangra district, he said.

Overall, the state recorded 20 per cent less rainfall during the monsoon season, which was likely to extend till September 20 this year, he said.

MORE UNI AS HS PB RK1740