📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Harpreet Riat
Weather
Monsoon Withdraws from North India, Dam Levels 36% Below Normal in Punjab, 20% in Himachal
✍️ The Tribune
🗓 03 Oct 2026, 06:37 PM
👁 11
Monsoon has retreated from northern India, leaving dam reservoirs in Punjab at 36% of normal capacity and in Himachal Pradesh at 20%.
The monsoon season has begun to recede from the northern plains, a development that has left water storage levels in major reservoirs alarmingly low. According to recent reports, dam storage in Punjab is now only 36% of the average capacity recorded during normal monsoon years, while in Himachal Pradesh the figure has fallen to a mere 20%.
These figures come at a time when farmers across both states are already feeling the pinch of water scarcity. With irrigation canals and groundwater supplies under strain, crop yields are expected to suffer, especially in the wheat and rice growing regions that rely heavily on monsoon rains.
State water authorities have warned that the current deficit could lead to rationing of water for both agricultural and domestic use in the coming months. They have urged farmers to adopt water‑saving techniques and to explore alternative sources such as rainwater harvesting.
The central government has pledged to monitor the situation closely and to deploy additional resources to help manage the crisis. However, experts say that the long‑term solution will require sustained investment in water infrastructure and better monsoon forecasting.
These figures come at a time when farmers across both states are already feeling the pinch of water scarcity. With irrigation canals and groundwater supplies under strain, crop yields are expected to suffer, especially in the wheat and rice growing regions that rely heavily on monsoon rains.
State water authorities have warned that the current deficit could lead to rationing of water for both agricultural and domestic use in the coming months. They have urged farmers to adopt water‑saving techniques and to explore alternative sources such as rainwater harvesting.
The central government has pledged to monitor the situation closely and to deploy additional resources to help manage the crisis. However, experts say that the long‑term solution will require sustained investment in water infrastructure and better monsoon forecasting.