Traffic on a water-logged road in Sant Ravidas Nagar in New Delhi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The South-West monsoon season ended with the country as a whole receiving 7.9 per cent above normal rains during the June-September period, with as much as 91 per cent of the geographical area reporting ‘normal’ or higher rainfall. However, as many regions received seen excess rain, leading to floods and crop damage in many parts, there may be a setback in achieving the target of bumper Kharif production, particularly oilseeds and pulses, though it may help the winter season crops.
Seasonal rainfall during June-September was recorded at 93.72 cm, as against 86.86 cm considered the long period average (1971-2020) for the period. Last year, the total monsoon rainfall was 93.48 cm. Rainfall between 104 and 110 is categorised as “above normal” by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The South-West monsoon accounts for a 75 per cent share of India’s annual normal rainfall of 116 cm, and plays a crucial role in crop production, as 48 per cent of the cultivable area is not irrigated.
The geographical distribution of the monsoon this year shows that the Central meteorological division received 15 per cent surplus rain, the south peninsula 10 per cent higher than normal, and the north-west region 27 per cent above normal. Only the east and north-west region received 20 per cent less than normal rainfall, but quantitatively it was still the second highest among all regions at 109 cm, marginally below 113 cm in the central region.
“Both total rainfall in distribution of rainfall is nearly the same as last year, except that there was a huge fortnightly variation this year,” a scientist said. For instance, all-India data shows the first fortnight of August saw a 20 per cent deficit, but the second half shows a 33 per cent surplus, he added.
Ladakh received 9.86 cm of rainfall this year, which is 342 per cent higher than the normal of 2.23 cm. Among the states, Rajasthan had the highest 71.39 cm of rainfall, which is 64 per cent more than the 43.6 cm normal. Bihar, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were among most deficient states, with over 30 per cent lower than normal precipitation.
Published on September 30, 2025