Shimla, Aug 1 (IANS) After a year of rain surplus, Himachal Pradesh has received 22 percent less rainfall than the average for this time of the season, a weather official said Monday.
"Almost the entire state has received less than normal rainfall," meteorological office director Manmohan Singh told IANS.
From June 1 to July 31, the state received 305.1 mm of rainfall against the average of 392.4 mm -- a deficit of 22 percent.
According to him, all districts, except Kinnaur and Sirmaur, have recorded deficient rain this year.
Lahaul and Spiti, with minus 88 percent, was the most deficient district. Shimla recorded 293.9 mm of rainfall against 394 mm, a shortfall of 25 percent.
Last year, the monsoon in the state was bountiful. It brought 16 percent more rains than the normal. Good monsoon brings good cheer to the millions of farmers as over 80 percent of the farm area in the state is rain-fed.