February 71 pc deficient in rain and snow: IMD

Month of February this winter season witnessed record  71pet cent deficit of rain and Snowfall as India Meteorological Department stated that indicates sever drought like situation in Himachal Pradesh. In a Weather data released so far by IMD states that cumulative precipitation was 37 pet cent less than normal rain and snowfall in this winter season. Tourist resort Manali and Shimla had no major spell of snowfall dismayed the footfall of Tourist in the season. IMD and state disaster Management authority spokesperson have already warned of severe drought like situation is developing in Himachal Pradesh in this winter season. Sudden rise of Mercury and dearth of rain and snowfall has increased the worries of farmers and Apple growers as most of arable cultivated lands fall in non-irrigated or rainfed category. Therefore lack of rain and dry spell  seems cast its inevitable dooms on the production of  state’s agriculture, horticulture produces and footfall of tourism. Generally, in the winter season, the state receives more rain and snowfall than normal. Last year  in 2022 also there was 92 percent more rain-snowfall than normal, but this time all 12 districts have received less cloud cover than normal. February is drier than January. In two months from January 1 to February 28, there is normal to 187.1 mm of normal rainfall, but this time only 117 mm of rain was recorded. Known for off seasonal vegetable production, Solan district continues reeling in the worst drought condition. Solan received 68 percent less rainfall than normal. Due to this, the crops of the farmers and gardeners suffered a lot and in the coming days. Early flowering in the pea and wilting Rabi crops would have cascading effect not only on the crops of the farmers but it would affect animal husbandry and milk production as drought may causes dearth of fodder and coarse grains. In this way, the maximum temperature of Shimla decreased by sharply about 4.9 degrees on Wednesday that of 12.6 degrees  a week ago, Sundernagar from 10 degrees to  degrees, Bhuntar 8 degrees, Kalpa minus 0.4degrees, Dharamshala 5.2 degrees, Keylong minus 3.4 degrees, Manali 4 degrees, Kufri 1.4 degrees. Ongoing western disturbance also plummet the Mercury but baring isolated places it was mainly dry to partly cloudy in the state.In Shimla district Khadarala had 4 cm snow,  Kufri also got snowflakes. In Gondla had six cm snow and Keylong four cm. Chopal of Shimla had 8.4 mm rain, Narkanda: 8 mm,  Shillaroo:6.5 mm, Manali 7 mm, Seobagh 6.8 mm and Shimla four and Jubberhatti 2.8 mm. Met office forecast wide spread rain and snowfall in mid and high reaches and heavy rain or snowfall in isolated places along with thunderstorms and lightening in next 24 hrs of the state.