Shimla: A day ahead of the expected arrival of South West monsoon in the hills here, an afternoon storm today rained cats and dogs, throwing life out of gear as clogged drainage systems spilled slush, mud and rock on roads and pathways, bringing traffic to a halt at many places.
The sudden downpour caught officer goers, tourists and other commuters in long jams, as gushing water flowing onto roads blocked them at many places.
Meteorological station director Manmohan Singh announced that the South West monsoon will arrive in the state on 1st or 2nd July.
Presenting the data for June, the weatherman has recorded deficient rains in all districts barring Solan for the month.
Against a normal rainfall of 99.3 mm, it has been 45 % deficient across the state this year with the met gauges only recorded 54.8 mm of accumulated rain in June.
The districts of Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba, Sirmaur and Hamirpur have received between 50 to 80% deficient rains in June. Solan recorded on 3% less rain than normal for the month.
Temperature recorded in the first half of the month were 3 to 4 degree Celsius above normal and were normal in the second half.
Forecasting the arrival of monsoons over the next two days, the met director has issued a warning that the state will receive moderate to rather heavy rainfall at many places till 3rd July.
Heavy to very heavy fall will occur at isolated places in the districts of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Una, and Kullu & Mandi, said Manmohan Singh.
