Himachal got more rains than normal this year
By IANSTuesday, August 31, 2010
SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh has received three percent more rains than normal during the current monsoon season, the weather office said here Wednesday.
In the past five years, it was for the first time that the state got surplus rains.
“The overall monsoon was above the average in most districts of the state. Till date (from June 1 to Aug 31) the state saw 687.5 mm of rain against the normal average of 665.5 mm, which means the state got three percent more rainfall,” Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
He said except Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Lahaul and Spiti and Sirmaur districts, all the other seven districts experienced extra rains.
Kinnaur received 171 percent extra rainfall while Kullu got 94 percent excess rainfall, he added.
The southwestern monsoon that reached the state July 5 would remain active in the region till Sep 15.
According to Singh, in the last five years the state saw deficit rainfall from June 1 to Aug 31.
There was deficit rainfall of 47 percent in 2009, 11 percent in 2008, 32 percent in 2007, 20 percent in 2006, and 11 percent in 2005.
Himachal Pradesh’s agriculture and horticulture based economy is highly dependent on monsoon.
