📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Fee
Weather
Monsoon retreats, 51% of India dry; some areas see 17‑year low rain
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 10:02 AM
👁 19
The southwest monsoon has withdrawn, leaving 51% of the country without rain. Several districts recorded their lowest rainfall in 17 years, while a few saw the highest in two decades.
The southwest monsoon began pulling back from the Indian subcontinent this week, marking the end of the main rainy season for 2026. Meteorological agencies reported that the retreat is proceeding faster than expected, with large swathes of the country already experiencing clear skies.
According to the India Meteorological Department, about 51% of the nation’s land area has received little to no rain since the monsoon’s withdrawal. In several districts across central and western India, rainfall totals were the lowest recorded in the past 17 years. Conversely, isolated pockets in the northeast logged their highest precipitation in two decades, creating a stark contrast in water availability.
The uneven distribution of rain is raising concerns among farmers and water‑resource managers. Areas with deficient rainfall risk delayed sowing and reduced crop yields, while regions with excess rain face potential flooding and soil erosion. State governments have begun issuing advisories and mobilising irrigation schemes to mitigate the impact.
Officials from the meteorological department emphasized that the current pattern underscores the growing variability of the monsoon. They urged communities to conserve water and adopt climate‑resilient agricultural practices as the country prepares for the next planting season.
According to the India Meteorological Department, about 51% of the nation’s land area has received little to no rain since the monsoon’s withdrawal. In several districts across central and western India, rainfall totals were the lowest recorded in the past 17 years. Conversely, isolated pockets in the northeast logged their highest precipitation in two decades, creating a stark contrast in water availability.
The uneven distribution of rain is raising concerns among farmers and water‑resource managers. Areas with deficient rainfall risk delayed sowing and reduced crop yields, while regions with excess rain face potential flooding and soil erosion. State governments have begun issuing advisories and mobilising irrigation schemes to mitigate the impact.
Officials from the meteorological department emphasized that the current pattern underscores the growing variability of the monsoon. They urged communities to conserve water and adopt climate‑resilient agricultural practices as the country prepares for the next planting season.