Shimla, July 15 (Reporter) The first leg of the South West Monsoon remained deficient in rain by 35 percent, as since July 7, the state received scattered rainfall (78 pc less than normal), the Indian Meteorological Department said, attributing subdued rain to the El Nino effect. IMD releasing d byatabase of monsoon rain in Himachal today stated that after onset of monsoon on June 27 till July 14, state had received cumulatively only 132 mm rain compared to 203 mm normal, which is 35 pc less than normal. Lahaul Spiti is deficient by 67 pc in rain during this period, Sirmour 57 pc, Una 54 pc, Kinnaur 48 pc, and Chamba 41 pc. All districts received less than normal rain in the first leg of the monsoon season. IMD attributed the prevailing E-nino effect on the entire Indian continent to a subdued monsoon, which is likely to continue till mid-August. Since July 7, the state received very negligible rain at most places, and during a week, the monsoon is almost dormant in most districts. According to IMD, monsoon rains were down by 78 p.c. in the last week, creating humid and heatwave conditions in the mid- and plain. Lahaul Spiti district did not receive rain in the last one week as it is 100 pc dry, Una had 97 deficient rain, Mandi 84 pc, Chamba 81 ov, Bilaspur 80 pc, Kangra 79, and Kullu 74 pc. All districts received deficient rainfall as compared to 58.6 mm of normal rain in the state; only 12.6 mm was recorded in one week, and dry weather conditions could prevail for the next two days. In the last 24 hours, the state has received three mm of rain in tourist resorts Dalhousie, Chamba (one mm), Kalpa in Kinnaur (0.8 mm), and Nahan (0.5 mm). IMD predicted that the monsoon may revive after July 17 onwards, and few places can experience moderate to heavy rainfall. Amid the dormant monsoon conditions, Mercury jumped five to six degrees Celsius, as Una was 36.8 degrees and 3.8 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature of Shimla also increased to 26.1 degrees, which is three degrees above normal...////...