Dharamsala receives its first pre-monsoon showers

Dharamsala, June 29 (ANI): Tourists and residents here enjoyed the first showers ahead of the annual monsoon rains.

The rain showers have brought much needed relief to the farmers and residents who were reeling under heat wave conditions intensified by the delayed monsoons.

It not only brought relief to the town but also offered some respite to the tourism industry here.

Tourists those who have come to enjoy the beauty of the hill town are happy and relieved after the rains.

"It is very cool here. It's very pleasant. Earlier, it was very hot and sunny, " said Ankur, a tourist from Delhi.

The tourist resort owners and hoteliers hope that these first monsoon rains will bring more tourists.

Meanwhile, the depleting water levels of the Pong Dam Reservoir become cause of worry for the residents and farmers.

The water level of the Pong Dam, which is situated in the Kangra valley, is reducing day by day.

This reservoir supplies water not only for irrigation to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan but it has also a hydel project.

"In my 33 years, I have not seen such low water levels of the dam.

The water is almost touching the ground. The situation is not good.

The water level is depleting," said, Gorkhi Ram, a farmer.

The situation has led to delay in sowing of various crops like rice, maize and others.

Further delayed monsoon can result in the shortage of million units of electricity from the state.

The Pong Reservoir is spread in 750 square kilometer and the maximum water level has been recorded up to 1410 feet.

During last year's summer, it was recorded 1311.12 feet, but this year it is less than 1275 feet. (ANI)