Shimla, Aug 2 (IANS): Many areas in Himachal Pradesh received moderate rainfall on Sunday, while the Met Office has forecast heavy rainfall in some parts.

The southwest monsoon, which hit the hill state on June 24, remained deficit by 20 percent till July 31, the weather office said.

Salooni in Chamba district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 58 mm, while it was 53 mm in Dharamsala, 25 mm in Nurpur, 24 mm in picturesque tourist resort Dalhousie and 3.6 mm in Manali, an official told IANS.

Officials said there was no appreciable change in the minimum temperatures.

State capital Shimla saw mild spells of rain and recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.

Dharamsala recorded a minimum of 15.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 15 degrees Celsius in Manali.

Una, Kullu, Shimla and Kangra districts saw excess rainfall, whereas eight districts received deficit rainfall ranging from five to 74 percent.

Last year, the rain deficiency in the state during the monsoon was 38 percent.

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the state, providing direct employment to 69 percent of its workforce.