Punjab records 29% surplus rain, but 50% of its area still parched

According to the Indian Meteorological Department’s Chandigarh Centre, Punjab received 64.2 mm of rainfall in June, which is 29% above the normal requirement of 49.7 mm. Even during the last week from June 23 to June 29, the state’s weekly rainfall was 16% above normal, with 20.6 mm of rain received against the required 17.8 mm. However, upon closer examination, it is evident that a dozen districts experienced highly deficient rainfall during the past week, while the remaining districts received a surplus.

In the past week, Barnala recorded a 100% deficit in rainfall, while Sangrur and Ludhiana ranked second in the category of scanty rain with a 92% deficit. Mansa and Jalandhar received 83% less rain than required, Kapurthala received 79% less, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar received 77% less, Hoshiarpur received 69% less, Fatehgarh Sahib received 67% less, Rupnagar received 51% less, Patiala received 45% less, and Moga received 15% less rain.

On the other hand, districts that recorded surplus rainfall included Firozpur with 528% surplus, Tarn Taran with 514% surplus, Amritsar with 318% surplus, Gurdaspur with 178% surplus, Pathankot with 121% surplus, Muktsar Sahib with 56% surplus, Mohali with 33% surplus, Faridkot with 15% surplus, Fazilka with 14% surplus, and Bathinda with 3% surplus during the past week.

Haryana, meanwhile, recorded 44% surplus rainfall during the seasonal period from June 1 to June 29, with 72.9 mm received against the required normal of 50.5 mm. The weekly rainfall in Haryana was recorded at 180% surplus, as the state received 49.1 mm against the normal requirement of 17.5 mm from June 23 to June 29.

Out of the 22 districts in Haryana, only five received deficit rainfall, including Fatehabad with a 72% deficit, Jind with a 61% deficit, Hisar with a 50% deficit, Panchkula with a 20% deficit, and Ambala with a 17% deficit.

For both the states, the surplus rain is quite beneficial for the ongoing sowing of paddy and Basmati crops.

These crops require a significant amount of water not only during sowing but also in the subsequent weeks.

According to the IMD, light to moderate rain is expected at many places in Punjab on June 30, along with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas. In Haryana, light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas, is also expected in next five days.