Significantly deficient rains in Punjab as monsoon approaches withdrawal phase

From Sept 1-18, receives 32.4 mm rain against normal of 53.8 mm

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, Updated At : 01:28 PM Sep 19, 2024 IST

Commuters head to their destinations amid rain in Chandigarh on Tuesday morning.

As the monsoon approaches its withdrawal phase, expected to commence from September 22, Punjab is among the few states in the country that are experiencing significantly deficient rains this year.

During September so far, rains in the state have been below the long period average by 36 per cent. From September 1 till September 18, Punjab received 32.4 mm rain against the normal of 53.8 mm for this period.

For the aforementioned period, rains in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh were above the long period average by 60 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

As far as the entire season is concerned, rains have been below par in all three states. From June 1 till September 18, the deficiency has been 26 per cent in Punjab, 19 per cent in Himachal Pradesh and 3 per cent in Haryana.

Tarn Taran and Pathankot in north-west Punjab were the only two districts in the state that received more rain that the long period average, with the surplus being 60 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively. In other districts, the deficiency ranged up to 58 per cent, with Bathinda being the worst hit, followed by Hoshiarpur.

According to the IMD, the monsoon in the country as a whole has been above the long period average by 7 per cent so far. Punjab figures alongside Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur that are in the red this year.

With 58 per cent above the long period average, Rajasthan experienced the highest deviation from normal this season, followed by Gujarat (44 per cent) and Telangana (33 per cent).

During the past 24 hours, light rain occurred at isolated areas in Punjab, but day as well as night temperatures remained a few notches above normal at a few places. The weather office has predicted that isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall is very likely over the region during the week, but no significant weather activity is expected.