Scant rainfall in post-monsoon season from November 1 to December 31 last was reported from various parts of the State. State received upto 76 per cent below normal rainfall by December 31 last, the Met Department said.
The report further says that the state also has not received rainfall for the past 12 days in January. A Met official said that there is little possibility of rain in vast areas of the state in the next 10 days.
The below- par winter rainfall has affected those engaged in horticulture and agriculture in the state. The farmers engaged in apple and wheat production are reported to be in distress due to scanty of rainfall this season.
Things turning alarming, the state authorities have directed the district agriculture and horticulture officers to estimate losses suffered by the farmers.
Meteorological centre director Bikram Singh said that during post-monsoon season in November and December, rainfall was scanty in the state. Uttarakhand has received 21.3 mm monsoon showers on the average against the normal figure of 89.6 mm, showing 76 per cent deficient rains as compared to the normal between November 1 and December 31, he added.
Haridwar has received 13.7 mm as against the normal of 48.7 mm, showing 72 per cent deficient rains while Udham Singh Nagar has received 1.8 mm rainfall as against the normal of 87.4 mm, showing 98 per cent deficient rains as against the normal. Chamoli has received 22.5 mm rainfall as against the normal of 78.3 mm, showing 71 per cent deficiency. Dehradun has received 23.7, showing deficit rain of 75 per cent as compared to the the normal monsoon rainfall 96. Rudraprayag has received 37.4 mm rainfall as against the normal of 96.7 mm, showing 61 per cent deficit rains while Uttarkashi has received 37.3 mm rainfall as against the normal of 97.9 mm, showing 62 per cent deficit rains as compared to the normal. Almora has received 6.1 mm rainfall as against the normal of 86.3 mm, showing 93 per cent deficient rains against the normal while Champawat has received 6 mm rainfall as against the normal of 108.3 mm, showing 94 per cent deficit rains as compared to the normal. However, Tehri recorded a deficient rainfall as it has received 27.2 mm rainfall as against the normal of 87.2 mm, showing 69 per cent deficient rains as compared the normal.
Nainital recorded a deficient rainfall as it has received 3.5 mm rainfall as against the normal of 104.6 mm, showing 97 per cent deficient rains as compared the normal. Pithoragarh has received 34.6 mm rainfall as against the normal of 97.1 mm, showing 64 per cent deficient rains as against the normal.
Bageshwar has received 6.8 mm rainfall as against the normal of 86.3 mm, showing 92 per cent deficient rains as against the normal. Pauri has received 15 mm rainfall as against the normal of 81 mm, showing 82 per cent deficient rains as against the normal.
While the departure -19 per to +19 per cent is normal the departure -20 per cent to -59 per cent is supposed to be deficient, Singh said.