Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 31
Himachal received 44 per cent deficient rain in August, barring Mandi district, which received near normal rain. The rain deficit ranged between 31 per cent (Kinnaur) and 92 per cent (Lahaul and Spiti). The total actual rainfall during August was 146.5 mm against the normal of 262.3 mm.
The state had received 324.3 mm rain (24 per cent excess) in August 2019 while the highest deficit of 66 per cent was recorded in 2005 followed by 52 per cent in 2009. However, the overall monsoon deficit during the current season from June 1 to August 31 was 18 per cent as the state received 518.9 mm rain against the normal rain of 635.8 mm.
The state had 29 rainy days in August and the highest rainfall of 115 mm was recorded at Bangana on August 28, 112 mm at Naina Devi on August 9, 106. 9 mm at Sujanpur Tira on August 21, 95.8 mm at Sundernagar on August 20 and 92 mm at Kasauli on August 14.
Moderate rain occurred at isolated places in the past 24 hours. The Met office has predicted rain and thunderstorm in lower and mid hills and rain and snowfall at isolated places in higher hills from August 1 to 6.
Gaggal was the wettest with 69 mm rain, followed by Dehra Gopipur 54, Paonta Sahib 24 mm, Dharamsala 22 mm, Salooni and Berthin 19 mm each, Guler 14 mm, Nagrota Surian and Chamba 13 mm each, Kheri 12 mm, Dalhousie 11mm, Ghamroor 10 mm, Hamirpur and Bharwain 9 mm each, Palampur and Amb 8 mm each, Sarkaghat 7 mm and Bangana, Nadaun and Una 4 mm each.
There was no appreciable change in the maximum and minimum temperatures and Keylong and Kalpa were the coldest at night with 10.8deg;C while Una was the hottest with a high of 35.6deg;C.
Meanwhile, with five more deaths (two in Chamba and one each in Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi and Shimla) reported in rain-related incidents in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 337.
The total loss to the state has increased to Rs 932.20 crore and 77 roads, including 45 in Hamirpur, 13 in Shimla, 10 in Mandi and seven in Kangra and two in Una, are still closed.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service