Shimla

Himachal Pradesh received 63.8 mm of rain against a normal of 95.4 mm from June 1 to 29, marking a deficit of 33 per cent, officials said.

According to data from the Shimla meteorological office, 11 of the 12 districts in the state received deficit rainfall in June barring Kinnaur, which received 7 per cent excess rain.

The rain deficit was 54 per cent in Sirmaur, 53 per cent in Lahaul-Spiti, 45 per cent in Kullu, 41 per cent in Mandi, 35 per cent in Kangra, 33 per cent in Bilaspur, 28 per cent each in Chamba and Una, 27 per cent in Hamirpur, 17 per cent in Solan and 6 per cent in Shimla, the data showed.

During the monsoon season from June to September, the normal rainfall for Himachal Pradesh is 734.4 mm.

According to Sandeep Sharma, a senior official in the Shimla meteorological office, conditions are favourable for the onset of monsoon in parts of Himachal Pradesh in the next three to four days.

Heavy, widespread rains are likely in parts of the state on July 2 and 3, he told PTI.

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However, the rains are expected to be below normal this monsoon, implying that the number of rainy days could be less than average.