Himachal sees 29th lowest rainfall since 1901 in August

Shimla, Sep 1 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh received 29th lowest rainfall of 212.5 mm since 1901 in August and the highest rainfall was received in 1927, which was 542.4 mm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.

It said the state received scattered to fairly widespread precipitation during many days of August. The active activity was recorded on five days i.e. August 5, 7, 11, 19 and 31, while the weak monsoon activity was on 11 days i.e. August 2, 3, 9, 13, 14, 21, 25, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

The state has received very heavy rain at isolated places over Sirmaur and Bilaspur districts on August 4, over Sirmaur and Una districts on August 5, over Kangra district on August 15 and over Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra districts on August 19.

Likewise, heavy rain was observed at isolated places over Bilaspur district on August 2, over Mandi, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts on August 3, over Sirmaur district on August 4, over Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi and Hamirpur districts on August 5, over Chamba and Kangra districts on August 6, over Sirmaur, Mandi and Kangra districts on August 7, over Kangra district on August 29, and over Chamba, Kangra, Bilaspur, Sirmaur and Mandi districts on August 31.

According to the IMD, Himachal Pradesh received normal precipitation (minus 17 per cent) with 212.5 mm actual rainfall against 256.8 mm normal rainfall in August. Kangra district has received the highest precipitation of 658.0 mm, and Lahaul-Spiti district has received the lowest precipitation amount of 27.8 mm during this period.

Sirmaur district has received the highest rainfall departure of 17 per cent, while Lahaul-Spiti district has received the highest negative rainfall departure of minus 76 per cent.

Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una districts have received normal precipitation, while Chamba, Hamirpur and Solan districts have received deficient precipitation and the remaining districts have received large deficient precipitation in August.

–IANS

vg/uk