The skies over Himachal Pradesh remained eerily silent this January, with barely a whisper of rain to quench its parched lands. Gone were the familiar rhythms of winter showers drumming against rooftops, the crisp scent of fresh earth after a downpour, or the gentle snowflakes blanketing the mountains. Instead, the state found itself in the grip of one of its driest starts to the year in over six decades, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting an alarming 84 percent rainfall deficit.
Himachal received a meager 13.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 85.3 mm — making it the ninth driest January since 1901. The driest January on record remains 1966, when the state saw an astonishingly low 0.3 mm of rain. This extreme deficit has set the stage for drought-like conditions, posing severe risks to agriculture, water security, and the region’s fragile ecosystem.
The absence of rain has been felt across all 12 districts of Himachal, with many regions experiencing a precipitation shortfall of over 90 percent. The worst-hit districts were Una and Hamirpur, which recorded a staggering 95 percent rainfall deficit, followed closely by Solan and Kinnaur at 93 percent.
Even traditionally wetter areas like Kullu (76 percent) and Lahaul and Spiti (77 percent) saw drastic reductions. Lahaul and Spiti, despite receiving the highest precipitation in the state at 23.3 mm, still remained significantly below normal levels.
The month saw only eight light rain spells and 18 snowfall events, most of which were localized and insufficient to compensate for the overall deficit. The most notable rainfall days — January 12, 16, and 17 — offered brief relief but failed to make a dent in the widening gap. Even the snow cover, which acts as a natural water reservoir for the state, was thinner than usual, with Koksar receiving the highest snowfall of 19 cm on January 17, followed by Gondla at 12 cm.
This prolonged dry spell is already wreaking havoc on agriculture and water availability. Farmers, who depend on winter precipitation for Rabi crops, are facing cracked soil, inadequate moisture, and growing concerns over crop failure.
The state’s famous apple orchards, which rely on winter chill and timely snow, could see reduced yields, affecting the livelihoods of thousands. Additionally, rising daytime temperatures have intensified evaporation, further depleting moisture levels and exacerbating the situation. Water bodies, springs, and reservoirs that sustain both human settlements and hydropower projects are showing early signs of stress, raising fears of a severe water crisis in the coming months.
The IMD’s forecast offers little hope for immediate relief. While light precipitation is expected on February 3, followed by light to moderate rain on February 4 and 5, the rest of the week is predicted to be dry. Experts warned that if this trend continues into February and March, Himachal Pradesh could be staring at one of its most severe water shortages in recent years.
With the state’s economy heavily reliant on agriculture, tourism, and hydropower, the long-term repercussions of this rain deficit could be far-reaching and devastating.
