Low rainfall in Himachal

The monsoon in Himachal Pradesh is at a deficit of 29 percent with the hill state receiving moderate rainfall, Met officials said Saturday.

However, India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials added that the state got 143 percent excess rains in June, the highest in 10 years.

"The state recorded 462 mm rain against the normal 410 mm from June 1 to July 31, which is 13 percent excess," IMD director Manmohan Singh told IANS.

He said the state got 222 mm of rain last month against the average of 311 mm, which was 29 percent less.

The normal position of the monsoon trough line usually passes from Ganganagar to Kolkata via Agra and Allahabad.

According to Singh, seven of the 12 districts - Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba - got a shortfall of rainfall in July. Lahaul-Spiti, where much of the land falls under a cold desert, recorded the highest rain deficiency of 95 percent.

The monsoon reached the state June 15, almost 10 days in advance.

Himachal Pradesh's agriculture and horticulture-based economy is highly dependent on the monsoon.