South-West monsoon reaches Himachal Pradesh

Most parts of Himachal Pradesh were lashed by heavy rains as South-West monsoon arrived in the state, about 10 days in advance.
"The south-west monsoon has arrived in the state ten days in advance and in the first spell it would remain active upto June 19," Manmohan Singh, Director MeT office said.
The mercury dropped by a few notches across the state due to intermittent heavy rains and state capital Shimla recorded minimum temperature at 12.3 degree C, 3.2 degree below normal.
Nahan recorded a low of 14. 1 deg C, nine degree below normal, followed by Manali 12.6 deg C, Keylong 10.6 deg C and Kalpa 10.2 deg C.

The local MeT office has predicted heavy rains and thundershowers at many places in the state during the next 72 hours.
Last year, the monsoon had arrived on July 5, while in 2000 and 2009 it had arrived on June 9, he said.

Himachal Pradesh has received 87.4 mm of rains from June 1 to June 15 which was 155 per cent more than normal and all districts, except Lahaul and Spiti, received more than normal rainfall.
The state had received 54 mm of rains till this date last year which was 58 per cent less than normal.
Kangra district got highest rainfall of 191.6 mm which was 365 per cent more than normal during this period, while Una district had 141.8 mm rains, 411 per cent more than normal, Singh said.

The mid and lower hills of the state were lashed by heavy showers with Nagrota Surian receiving 120 mm of rains, followed by Guler and Nahan 88 mm, Bilaspur and Jhandutta 63 mm, Gohar and Gamroor 62 mm, Kasol 57 mm, Renuka 54 mm, Mandi Nahan and Karsog 49 mm, Kahu 47 mm, Sundernagar 44 mm, Nadaun 43 mm, Kumarsain, Sunnibhajji and Palampur 40 mm, Berthin and Kandaghat 38 mm, Una 37 mm, Mashobra 32 mm and Jubbal and Shimla 30 mm.