Shimla, Nov 1
The month of October ending on Sunday registered record 106 per cent excessive rain and snow beating the previous highest rainfall record of October 2004, a communique issued by the Indian Metalogical department informed. Spokesperson of IMD said that most of the districts received largely excess precipitation in this month.
During this month cumulative 56.7mm precipitation was recorded in state which was 106 per cent above normal rainfall. Baring Mandi and Hamirpur which received normal and excess rainfall respectively, all other districts recorded largely excessive precipitation.
During the month light to moderate snowfall occurred in the high reaches of Lahaul – spiti, Kinnaur and Shimla district.
Due to snowfall number of persons with 39 vehicles got stranded at Sumdho (Spiti Sub Division). They added that eight trackers died on Sangla trail in Himachal Pradesh after heavy snow.
Due to bad weather (gusty winds) some of the apple crops also got damaged in the high reaches of Kinnuar and other districts.
4 Major spells of snow
IMD said that during the month four major spells of precipitation ( Oct 1 to 31 ) were recorded in Dalhousie of Chamba district & Rajgarh ( Sirmaur ) had 77 mm each and Kokhsar ( Lahaul – Spiti ) had 45.17 cm snowfall.
On October 2, Palampur in Kangra received 36.8 mm rain, Kothi in Kullu 32.2 mm, Dharmsala in Kangra 26.6mm & Dalhousie 26 mm.
In Una district, heavy rains and thunderstorms have inflicted deep wounds on sugarcane growers causing damage as crop is spread in the fields, informed IMD spokesperson.
Second spell of rain and snow recorded on Oct 19 as Sangla & Kalpa (Kinnaur) had 66.4 mm and 50 mm rain, Chopal ( Shimla ) 35.4 mm, Koksar (Lahaul-Spiti) had 15.3cm, Gondla(Lahaul-Spiti):8.0cm.
3rd spell was recorded on Oct 22 Dalhousie 77 mm, Kheri(Chamba) 57 mm , Una – 53 mm , Bangana -50 mm, Ghamroor (Kangra) 42 mm Nagrota Suriyan 41 mm, Guler 39 mm, Mehre 37mm , Saloni 36 mm, Dehra Gopipur 34 mm Jhandutta (Bilaspur) 30 mm.
Gondla-18 cm snow, Hansa-10 cm and Keylong three cm.
4th spell on Oct 24, Rajgarh had 77 mm, Kasauli(Solan) 68 mm, Naina Devi in Bilaspur 52 mm, Amb(Una) 43 mm , Jhandutta 40 mm , Dharampur & Solan -34 mm each, Barthin(Bilaspur) Tissa (Chamba) 32 mm each , Aghar (Hamirpur) 31 mm. Kokhsar 45.17 cm snow , Gondla – 4 cm and Keylong three cm.
Therefore state recorded 106 per cent(cumulative rain 56.7mm) excess rainfall breaking previous record of highest rain or snow of Oct 2004 which was 102 pc excess (92.8 mm). He added that from year 2005 to 2020, the state had below normal rain in the month of October. State recorded about minus 99 per cent deficient rain in 2017 & 2020. State also recorded minus 97 pc and minus 93 pc (deficient) rain in 2005 and 2012.
