M A I N   N E W S

Rainfall better, but plains remain dry
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26
Last week, the countrywide monsoon rains were above normal by 24 per cent —the highest in the season so far. However, so far as the northwest is concerned the good news is that seasonal rains improved considerably over the past one week to bring down the deficit in the crucial agrarian region to 38 per cent. However, the bad news is that most of these rains remained confined to hilly parts. The shortfall in Punjab is now up to a whopping 62 per cent.

In comparison, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi received normal (+19 and -19 per cent) rains last week. But overall the region with 54 per cent shortfall is still deficient (-20 to -60 per cent). According to the IMD’s classification, less than 20 per cent rains mean a drought.

Rains are expected over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the next couple of days but only “scattered activity” has been predicted for the plains of northwest India between July 29 and August 2.

Punjab, Haryana worst hit; HP lags

• The three subdivisions - Punjab; Gujarat region and Daman; and Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu - are currently categorised as the worst hit
• Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi received normal rains last week. But overall the region is still deficient by -20 % to -60%.