Monsoon over 50 per cent deficient in Himachal

Shimla : Farmers in Himachal Pradesh are a worried lot with the monsoon playing truant , till Friday the hill state has had 51 per cent deficient rainfall this season .

All the twelve districts of the state are deficient from June 1 to July 20 . The worst affected  districts are Lahaul & Spiti 84 per cent deficient followed by Chamba 78 per cent , Kinnaur 69 per cent and Una 65 per cent , the weather office here said .

So far Solan and Kullu districts have had better rainfall but even these two districts are 32 per cent deficient .

After a week long dry spell there was some sign of the revival of the monsoon as many parts were lashed by rain Friday .

Shimla recorded a high of 23.5 celsius , Dharamsala 31.4 C and Una was 34 C .

The weatherman has forecast rain till July 24 . Sowing of crops has been delayed and standing crops have been hit by the dry spell at many places in the lower hills most of which depend on rains in the near absence of irrigation.

In the mid hills the apple crop has been affected at many places as orchards are in the desperate need of moisture . Apple harvest in the lower hills starts in July .