Monsoon withdraws from Himachal, 38 percent deficit reported

The southwest monsoon Sunday withdrew from Himachal Pradesh, but remained 38 percent deficit, the weather bureau said.

This was the driest monsoon in the decade, it added.

"The monsoon remained deficit in most parts of the state that witnessed 38 percent deficit rain," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.

He said the cumulative rainfall from June 1 to Sep 30 was 521.8 mm against the normal precipitation of 780 mm, which was 38 percent less than the normal rainfall.

Last year, the rain deficiency in the state was just seven percent.

Four of the 12 districts -- Una (863.4 mm), Hamirpur (890 mm), Mandi (1050.8 mm) and Shimla (555.9 mm) -- recorded normal precipitation this monsoon.

Kinnaur district recorded the lowest rainfall of 47.8mm -- 82 percent less than normal.

Sirmaur (873.4 mm), Kangra (1058.2 mm), Bilaspur (638.1 mm), Solan (774.7 mm) and Kullu (409.3 mm) districts also received deficient rainfall.

During the monsoon, Dharamsala, which normally gets most rains after Cherrapunji, recorded 2006.9 mm rainfall -- 15 percent less than its normal.

Dharamsala, the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had recorded the highest ever rainfall of 4,153 mm in 1958.

Shimla city recorded 1064.1 mm rain, one percent more than its normal rainfall.

The weather office statement said this was the driest monsoon in the decade.

In 2004, the monsoon in the state was deficient by 46 percent (421 mm).

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the state, providing direct employment to 69 percent of its workforce.