Patiala, Sept. 1 -- Flood-ravaged Punjab received 253.7 mm of rain in August, making it the wettest month in 25 years, according to the data shared by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday. This marks 74% excess rain compared to the long period average (LPA) of 146.2mm in the monsoon season since 2000, signalling a big departure from the past, the data further reveals. The IMD's monthly report, released on Sunday, highlighted that the state broke all the previous records of rainfall in August. "Punjab received deficient rainfall multiple times in the past couple of decades, but this year it recorded the highest rainfall figures for August in the last 25 years," the IMD's monthly report added. Before this year, Punjab had recorded the highest rainfall in August in 2008, which was recorded at 46% above the LPA. Punjab is currently under the grip of massive floods caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets. The report further highlights that 18 of the state's 23 districts received excess rain, while a few districts, like Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib, recorded deficient rainfall. As per the IMD's report, Gurdaspur district was the wettest in the state. With 577 mm of rainfall in August, Gurdaspur recorded 181% rainfall above the LPA. Gurdaspur was followed by Jalandhar, Pathankot, and Tarn Taran districts. Jalandhar received 479.9mm of rain, against a normal of 172.8mm, which was 178% in excess. Pathankot was battered with 944.2 mm of rain in August, 152% more than the season's normal of 375.2 mm, while Tarn Taran recorded 208 mm of rain against the month's normal of 87.1%, which was 139 % in excess. In July, Punjab had recorded less rainfall activity. The state had received 9% less rainfall from the LPA, with Rupnagar, Sangrur, Barnala, Mohali, SBS Nagar, and Hoshiarpur being the worst-hit districts. In June, too, Punjab had received 28% less rainfall. The IMD officials said that although Punjab had received 12% less rainfall in August until August 24, the subsequent western disturbance brought an increased rainfall activity in the state. "Along with the active monsoon, the recent Western disturbance, last week, enhanced the rainfall activity in the state. This led to the highest rainfall in August since 2000," Surender Paul, director, IMD Chandigarh, said. The IMD issued a red alert for Punjab, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours. Officials cautioned that the heavy downpour could lead to flooding in rivers and rivulets, trigger mudslides in catchment areas, and cause waterlogging in low-lying urban localities over the next two days According to the weather department, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Sunday, Amritsar recorded 18 mm of rain, Ludhiana 16.7 mm, Patiala 80 mm, Faridkot 5 mm, Ferozepur 4.5 mm, and Hoshiarpur 26 mm....