Rain woes continue: Punjab gets 187% above normal in first week of Sept, Haryana 170%

India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows that between September 1 and 7, Punjab received 66.3 mm of rainfall compared to the normal of around 23 mm for this period — nearly three times the usual amount. Haryana also recorded 64.9 mm of rainfall against the normal of about 24 mm — nearly 170 per cent above the usual for this period.

Punjab received more than the normal rainfall, with several districts experiencing two to five times the expected amount in the first week of September.

Gurdaspur received 128 mm in the first week of September (recording 979.4 mm on Sept 1 and 1,107.4 mm on Sept 7) against the normal rainfall of 52 mm — 145 per cent surplus, i.e, nearly 2.5 times above normal.

Gurdaspur received 128 mm in the first week of September (recording 979.4 mm on Sept 1 and 1,107.4 mm on Sept 7) against the normal rainfall of 52 mm — 145 per cent surplus, i.e, nearly 2.5 times above normal.

Barnala logged 105.2 mm in a week (535.5 – 640.7 mm) against the normal of 21 mm — nearly five times more. Ludhiana received 84.3 mm in seven days (713.6 -797.9 mm), 97 per cent above the weekly normal of 43 mm. Jalandhar added 68.6 mm in a week (834.1 – 902.7 mm), 93 per cent above normal. Tarn Taran received 73.2 mm of rainfall (576.7 -649.9 mm) against a weekly normal of 28 mm, making it a 160 per cent surplus. Pathankot received 61.4 mm in seven days (1480.6 -1542 mm), almost double the normal weekly average of 33 mm, and Moga recorded 37 mm in a week (480.4-517.4 mm), about 95 per cent above normal.

However, Kapurthala (-15%) and Mohali (-11%) are among a few districts which received less than normal rainfall.

In Haryana, Panipat logged 130.7 mm in the first week of September (503.4 -634.1 mm) against the normal of 31 mm, a massive 319 per cent surplus. Kurukshetra received 138.3 mm rainfall in a week (626.7 -765 mm), nearly three times of the normal 46 mm. Hisar got 74.3 mm rainfall (442 -516.3 mm), about 95 per cent above the weekly average of 39 mm. Jhajjar recorded 52.7 mm in a week (641 -693.7 mm), nearly double the normal of 27 mm. Kaithal received 62.5 mm of rainfall (342.8 – 405.3 mm), almost two times more than the weekly normal of 32 mm.

Already rain-soaked Mahendragarh received 48.9 mm extra, more than 100 per cent surplus over the normal. In contrast, Ambala (-9%) and Panchkula (-5%) were among a few Haryana districts which recorded a deficit despite showers in the first week of September.

The intense spells last week filled rivers and reservoirs, but also raised concerns over flooding fields and breaches in low-lying flood-prone areas.

IMD, Chandigarh, Director Surinder Paul said, “These rains are happening due to active South-West monsoons, while sometimes a little interaction with western disturbances also takes place.”

He added that moderate rain is likely at a few places over Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshehar and Roopnagar on September 9.