Moderate rainfall in various regions of Punjab and Haryana over the last fortnight has brought down rainfall deficiency in the two agrarian states.
The rainfall deficit was as high as 65 per cent each in the two states and in the capital Chandigarh during the June-August period this year.
According to the data available between June 1-September 15 this year, Punjab received a rainfall of 242.5 mm, against a normal of 454.8 mm for the period, resulting in a deficit of 47 per cent, an official of Chandigarh's MeT department said.
In neighbouring Haryana, which has already been declared as drought-hit by the state government, the rainfall received during June 1-September 15 was 199 mm as against a normal of 434.2 mm, leaving a deficit of 54 per cent.
Union Territory Chandigarh had received 354.5 mm of rain between the period as against normal of 780.2 mm, resulting in deficit of 55 per cent, the official said.
However, the deficit has come down after receiving good amount of rain between September 1-15, he said.
He further said that in Punjab, places including Barnala (deficit of 81 per cent against normal), Sangrur (66 per cent), Mansa (69 per cent) were among those places to receive scanty rains.
However, places like Kapurthala and Muktsar received excess rain than normal, with 391.8 mm (normal 388.1 mm) and 305.6 mm (normal 295.6 mm) lashing the two places during the June 1-September 15 period, with bulk rains coming down during the last fortnight.
Other places in Haryana to receive poor rain include Fatehabad (deficit of 70 per cent against normal), Rohtak (down 80 per cent), Sonipat (down 68 per cent) while places like Yamunanagar (down 35 per cent) were slightly better in comparison.
