An above normal pre-monsoon rain that lashed north India late night has come as a boon for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh ahead of paddy transplantation from June 20. With heavy showers in the last 24 hours, 14 out of 22 districts of Punjab and 16 of 21 Haryana districts received a cumulative rainfall of above normal in June 2018. The average cumulative rainfall in Punjab to date was 29.1 mm against the normal of 14.9 mm, which is 96 per cent more, while for Haryana it is 24 per cent higher than normal at 19.5mm. Chandigarh received 72.7 mm against the normal of 42.3 mm.