Kathmandu, Feb. 10 -- Nepal has witnessed just 11 millimeters of rainfall since December 1, which is significantly below the usual winter average of 60.1 mm. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that six out of 10 past winters witnessed below-normal rainfall-12.5 mm, 14.4 mm, 17.6 mm, and so on.

The country witnessed 136mm rainfall in the winter of 2019-20, and in the winter of 2018-19, it received 108 mm of rainfall, both of which were significantly higher than what is considered normal.

"The country mostly experienced dry conditions with light scattered rains in some hilly places with light snowfall over the higher altitudes," said Sudarshan Humagain, an official at the department. "Drought-like conditions for a long time ...