It has been the driest monsoon season this year in the agrarian States of Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital-Chandigarh in the past 27 years.

The monsoon was less than 50 per cent of its normal rains in the two neighbouring States and the union territory of Chandigarh during this season.

According to the data released by Chandigarh Meteorological Department, the monsoon has withdrawn from most parts of the region and a highest rain deficit is recorded in 2014 after the year 1987. This year, the monsoon rain deficit stands at staggering 58 per cent in Chandigarh. From June to September, the city has recorded 354.5 mm rainfall against normal of 844.2 mm rains, The prayers to the rain Gods remain unanswered in the neighbouring states also with Haryana recording high rain deficit of 56 percent while Punjab saw rain deficit of

50 percent.

In monsoon 2014, Punjab has recorded 243.4 mm rains against normal of 491.5 mm and Haryana witnessed 199.4 mm rains against normal of 460.4 mm rainfall. This is the highest rain deficit during monsoon after the year 1987 which saw 67.6 per cent rain deficit in Punjab, 63.6 per cent in Haryana and 67 per cent rain deficit in Chandigarh.

After 1987, the year 2012 witnessed driest monsoon

season with Haryana recording 40 percent rain deficit and Punjab witnessing 46 per cent rainfall deficit.

While talking to The Pioneer, Surender Pal, Director, Chandigarh Meteorological Department said, “The monsoon rain deficit witnessed this year is highest in last 27 years in the region. Earlier, the drought like situation was witnessed in 1987.”

“The monsoon has already withdrawn from many parts of the region. This year, most parts of Punjab and Haryana have recorded less than 50 percent of its normal rainfall during monsoon season,” said he. As per the MeT Department observations from 1901-2013, Punjab has so far witnessed 29 excess monsoon years when rainfall has been more than 20 percent of the normal rainfall and 32 deficit monsoon years where deficit is more than 20 percent. Similarly, Haryana has seen 29 excess monsoon years and 32 deficit monsoon years. “During the period 1971-2013, Chandigarh has received excess rainfall in 13 years, normal in 20 years and deficient in 9 years. Rainfall was scanty only in the year 1987. During the preceding decade i.e., 2004-2013, the rainfall was excess in two, normal in six and deficient in two seasons. The wettest season was 2010 (+377.9 per cent) and the driest was in 2006 (-36 per cent),” as per the MeT Department observations.

Surender Pal added, “This year, the rainfall recorded from June to August was far short of the normal quantum that led to a high rainfall deficit after more than two decades in the region.” The south-west monsoon had reached the region on July 1 and 2 this year.

This year, Barnala in Punjab saw highest rain deficit of 82 per cent while Rohtak in Haryana recorded rain deficit of 80 per cent. Most of the districts of Punjab and Haryana have recorded more than 50 per cent rainfall deficit. As per the data, in Haryana, the rain deficit recorded in Sonepat is 70 per cent, Fatehabad 71 per cent, Kurukshetra 66 per cent, Jind 60 per cent, Kaithal 63 per cent, Palwal 65 per cent, Hisar 65 per cent. All districts received scanty rainfall and Jhajjar witnessed least rainfall deficit of 32 per cent.

In Punjab, places including Mansa recorded 71 per cent rainfall deficit, Sangrur 69 per cent, Patiala 62 per cent, Fatehgarh Sahib 65 per cent.  Muktsar district recorded least rain deficit of 2 per cent.

During 2013 monsoon season, Haryana had witnessed rain deficit of 23 per cent after recording 356.7 mm rains against normal rains of 460.4 mm. Punjab had received 480 mm rains against normal of 491.5 mm with

-2 per cent deviation from

the normal.