With half of the monsoon season ending, Chandigarh has witnessed more than 50 per cent rainfall deficit while several parts of Punjab and Haryana are on the brink of facing a drought-like situation due to deficient monsoon rains.
According to the Meteorological Department, Chandigarh has received 203.5 mm rains against normal rains of 412.6 from June to August 1, recording rainfall deficit of – 51 percent.During 2013 monsoon, Chandigarh had received 825 mm rains against normal rains of 788 mm, with 37 mm surplus monsoon rainfall.So far, all districts of neighboring Haryana and Punjab have recorded rainfall deficiency this year.
In Haryana, the districts namely Rohtak, Panipat, Fatehabad and Sonepat are badly hit due to poor monsoon rains. Various parts of Haryana have recorded rain deficit ranging from -19 per cent to -86 per cent.
The local Meteorological Department’s data shows high rains deficiency of -86 percent in Rohtak, -79 per cent in Panipat, -74 per cent in Sonepat and -71 percent in Fatehabad, -68 per cent in Kurukshetra, -64 per cent in Palwal, -63 per cent in Jind and -61 percent in Kaithal. Faridabad district recorded least rainfall deficiency of -19 per cent followed by -28 per cent in Rewari and -29 per cent in Yamunanagar.
The neighboring state of Punjab also faced high rainfall deficit. A rainfall deficit of upto 87 per cent was recorded in parts of Punjab.The districts with highly deficit of rainfall are Barnala with -87 per cent, Sangrur with -83 per cent, Fatehgarh Sahib with -78 per cent, Patiala with -77 per cent, Amritsar and Mansa with – 71 per cent each. Faridkot district of Punjab recorded least monsoon rains deficit of -9 per cent followed by -23 per cent in Moga and -30 per cent in Muktsar.
In the year 2013, Punjab received 468.4 mm rains against normal of 457.7 mm with 2 per cent surplus downpour while Haryana had witnessed rain deficit of 27 per cent recording 320.4 mm rains against normal rains of 438.3 mm.As per the Met Department forecast, rain/thundershowers may occur at some places in Punjab in next three days. Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts are likely to witnessed light to heavy rains in next three days. In Haryana, generally cloudy conditions with possibility of light rain/thundershowers at few places in next 12 hours with increase in distribution and intensity towards southeastern/southern districts of the state is predicted.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana is likely to witness overcast conditions in next 24 hours.A Met official said that moderate to heavy rains are expected in the region in the coming days. And, the monsoon deficiency is expected to narrow down in some parts of the region.He said, “Monsoon rainfall will remain below normal this year.”The south-west monsoon had reached the region on July 1 and 2. last year, the monsoon had arrived in the region on June 16, while in the year 2012, the monsoon reached here on July 6.