Punjab: After initial withdrawal, monsoon withdrawal has been halted for the last three days

Punjab: After beginning withdrawal from the region on September 24 – four days behind the normal date – the monsoon withdrawal has been halted since then, with many parts of northwest India receiving intermittent rains over the last three days. The withdrawal on the first day was restricted to the southwestern tip of Punjab and Haryana, including parts of Fazilka and Sirsa districts. Normally, the monsoon withdraws completely from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh by September 25. The monsoon began its seasonal withdrawal from the country on September 23 from western Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat – seven days behind the normal date. The withdrawal line from September 24 has been passing through Ferozepur, Sirsa, Churu, Ajmer, Mount Abu, Deesa, Surendranagar and Junagadh.

At the time of withdrawal from Punjab, the state was 48 per cent deficient in rainfall during September. Over the next three days, the deficit increased to 50 per cent, although many parts of the region received rain. According to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Punjab received 37.2 mm of rainfall from September 1 to September 26, while the long period average for this period is 74.3 mm. In Himachal Pradesh, the monthly deficiency, which was 8 per cent on September 24, has recovered and till September 26, rainfall has been at par with the long period average. Haryana has recorded an excess of 38 per cent. However, seasonal deficiency continues across the region and since June 1, there is a 29 per cent deficit in Punjab, 19 per cent in Himachal Pradesh and 4 per cent in Haryana.