Punjab: Monsoon weak, state still receives 26% less rain

Punjab: With the monsoon entering the withdrawal phase from September 22, Punjab is among the few states that have recorded a significant deficit in rainfall this year. So far in September, the rainfall in the state has been 36 per cent below the long period average. From September 1 to 18, Punjab received 32.4 mm of rain, while the normal rainfall during this period is 53.8 mm. According to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall in neighbouring states Haryana and Himachal Pradesh during this period was 60 per cent and 13 per cent above the long period average, respectively. As far as the season as a whole is concerned, rainfall in all three states has been below normal. From June 1 to September 18, Punjab has received 26 per cent less rainfall, Himachal Pradesh 19 per cent and Haryana three per cent less.

Tarn Taran and Pathankot in northwest Punjab are two such districts of the state that have received more rain than the long period average. The surplus here was 60 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Other districts had a deficit of up to 58 per cent. Bathinda was the worst affected. Hoshiarpur was followed by it. According to the IMD, monsoon across the country has so far been 7 per cent above the long period average. Punjab is in the red this year along with Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur. With 58 per cent more rain than the long period average, Rajasthan witnessed the highest deviation from normal this season. It was followed by Gujarat (44 per cent) and Telangana (33 per cent). Isolated areas of Punjab received light rains in the last 24 hours, but day and night temperatures remained a few degrees above normal at some places. The weather department has forecast that light to moderate rainfall is likely in the region during the week, but no significant weather activity is expected.