Dharamsala gets second highest monsoon rain in 110 years

Shimla : The hill station of Dharamsala and seat of the Dalai Lama in Himachal Pradesh this year received the second highest rainfall since records were kept 110 years ago , a weather official said Wednesday .

“Dharamsala in the Kangra valley  recorded 3660 mm rainfall which is 56 per cent more than normal . This is the second highest during the last 110 years . The highest was in 1958 , 4153 mm ,” said Manmohan Singh head of the Indian meterological department here .

Formally announcing the withdrawal of the monsoon from northern India .

“Himachal received 11 per cent less rainfall. But this is in the normal range . Kangra and Kullu district recorded excess rainfall at 23 and 22 per cent ,” Singh said .

Four districts , Lahaul & Spiti , Chamba , Kinnaur and Sirmaur were deficent , while the remaining districts had a normal monsoon . The state capital Shimla had 12 per cent deficent rainfall .

The monsoon arrived late this year and rains were scanty in July . But picked up in August which was the wettest month with 14 per cent excess rain than normal .