Heavy rainfall recorded in Punjab

Ludhiana, Aug 18: The month of August (till 14th) recorded 245.0 mm rain as against the normal of 180 mm in Punjab, where the three major rivers, Beas, Sutlej and Ravi are in spate.

Rainfall from June 1 to August 13, which is recorded at 670 mm, is one of the highest in the past 35 years in Punjab. During the last 35 years, this situation occurred only twice that these three months received rainfall above 670 mm against the normal of 480 mm.

Earlier in 1980, the state received 707.6 mm rain from June to mid-August and then in 2001, 818 mm rain was recorded in Ludhiana.

The state received above 250 mm rainfall in the month of August in 1976, 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2003. In 1995 and in 1997 the rainfall in the current month went upto 404.5 mm and 409.8 mm respectively.

The monsoon rainfall in Punjab spreads mainly over three months, July, August and mid-September with the highest rainfall in July followed by August, September and least in June but this year the trend is totally different, Dr G S Bains, Head, Department of Agricultural Meteorology of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) stated here today.

According to Dr Bains, this year June and August months received more rainfall (till Aug 14)) as compared to July. Comparing rainfall with the last year data during Kharif 2007, Dr Bains said that the monsoon rains remained below normal and were also not very evenly distributed in the state, but this year the rainfall is very well distributed.

Discussing the rainfall trends Dr K K Gill, a Agrometeorologist at PAU said that normal onset of monsoon in Punjab is around July one but this year the monsoon arrived on June 15. The month of June recorded nearly 277.7 mm of rainfall against the normal of 66.4 mm while only 152.5 mm of rainfall was recorded for July against the normal of 232.2 mm.

UNI