Patiala, Oct. 1 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday admitted that the forecast for the northwest region, including Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, for the monsoon season was not exact.

The IMD is the country's national agency for meteorology and weather services that forecasts and issues warnings for heavy rains and other weather events.

The IMD - in its second long-range forecast issued on May 27 - had issued a forecast that the northwest region would receive normal to above normal rainfall. However, the region - contrary to the forecast - received 27% excess rainfall, highest since 2001.

As to Punjab specifically, the special weather report released by IMD on Tuesday revealed that the state received 41% above rainfal...