LAHORE, Oct 1: The monsoon season ended on Wednesday after giving adequate rain in the country, especially in the drought prone areas in Sindh and Balochistan.

The rain was above normal in many cities, filling the Mangla and Tarbela dams. The Mangla has been filled after three years.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department had forecast normal rainfall during the season, which according to its standards starts from July 1 and ends on Sept 30.

It had expected an average of 137.5mm of the rainfall in every area of the country, which had been having less-rain monsoon seasons during the past three years.

Rain in the dry parts of Sindh and Balochistan in July and August was the highlight of the season. In July, a monsoon deep low caused considerable damage to life and property in the two provinces. However, it filled dams and lakes there.

According to Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan, the season gave sufficient rain in the northern, southern and central Pakistan. It filled the Hub Dam and almost dry lakes in Balochistan, giving enough water for the areas for the next three to four years.

According to information gathered from the Flood Forecasting Bureau, Sialkot received 1,163mm rain, which was the highest in the country. It was followed by Islamabad (Zero Point 845mm and airport 720mm), Balakot 777mm and Kotli (Azad Kashmir) 754mm.

In Punjab, Bahawalnagar received 254mm rain, Bahawalpur 123mm, Faisalabad 232mm, Jhelum 548mm, Khanpur 237mm, Lahore (airport 218mm and city 379mm), Multan 122mm, Murree 462mm, Sargodha 186mm, Mianwali 161mm, Rahwali 163mm, Shorkot 318mm, Dera Ghazi Khan 61mm and Jhang 132mm.

In Balochistan, Barkhan received 127mm rain, Dalbadin 86mm, Jiwani 19mm, Kallat 46mm, Lasbela 170mm, Panjgur 45mm, Pasni 28mm, Quetta 43mm, Sibbi 126mm and Zhob 151mm rain.

In Azad Kashmir and the northern areas, 121mm rain was reported in Astore, 68mm in Bunji, 27mm in Chillas, 372mm in Garhi Dupatta, 466mm in Muzaffarabad, 48mm in Skardu and 237mm in Rawlakot.

According to reports from the NWFP, Bannu received 21mm rain, Chitral 19mm, Dera Ismail Khan 149mm, Dir 194mm, Drosh 48mm, Kakul 536mm, Parachinar 184mm, Peshawar 297mm, Saidu Sharif 300mm, Risalpur 254mm, Kamra 626mm and Kohat 289mm.

In Sindh, Badin received 351mm rain, Chhor 571mm, Hyderabad 291mm, Jacobabad 163mm, Karachi (airport) 295mm, Nawabshah 331mm, Padidan 17mm and Rohri received 40mm rain.