The southwest monsoon continued to play truant in several parts of the region.
According to the Meteorological Department, the agrarian States of Punjab and Haryana have recorded high rainfall deficit so far during ongoing monsoon.
As per the data released by MeT Department, all districts in Punjab have recorded monsoon rainfall deficiency ranging from -31 per cent to -86 per cent till July 27. The districts with highly deficient rainfall are Barnala with - 86 per cent, Sangrur with - 85 per cent, Fatehgarh Sahib with -79 percent, Mansa with -75 per cent, Patiala with -74 per cent and Ferozepur with -73 percent. Muktsar recorded least rainfall deficit of -23 per cent.
Most parts of neighbouring Haryana have recorded high rainfall deficit till now during the ongoing monsoon. Meteorological Department’s data shows that the monsoon rainfall deficiency of -89 per cent in Rohtak, -81 per cent in Panipat, -70 per cent in Palwan, -69 per cent in Jind, -69 per cent in Fatehabad, -65 per cent in Kurukshetra, -67 per cent in Hisar, -58 per cent in Sirsa was recorded. Faridabad witnessed least deficit of - 10 percent.
The joint capital of Punjab and Haryana-Chandigarh has received 184.7 mm rains recording a departure of -180.5 mm till July 27. According to the local MeT Department forecast, moderate to rather heavy rainfall is expected in some parts of Punjab after 24-36 hours. Rain/thundershowers may occur in some parts of Amritsar, Jalandhar, ludhiana, Ferozpur, Gurdaspur, Muktsar districts in Punjab.
In Haryana, rain/thundershowers are likely to occur in some parts of Haryana during next 24 hours and would cover most parts in subsequent 48-72 hours, as per MeT forecast. 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.