Monsoon crisis deepens: September rain deficit at 26%, overall 15%

India's rainfall shortfall has widened sharply in early September and across the monsoon season. The deficit is heightening concerns over kharif crops, water availability and food prices.A farmer ploughs a paddy field at a village, in Morigaon, Thursday, July 11, 2024. (PTI Photo)India's monsoon crisis is deepening as rainfall during the first nine days of September has fallen sharply below normal, pushing concerns over crops, reservoirs and water availability to the forefront in the final stretch of the season.The latest rainfall data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that the country received just 44.3 mm of rainfall between September 1 and September 9, against a normal of 59.9 mm, a deficit of 26 per cent.The broader southwest monsoon season has also deteriorated.Between June 1 and September 9, India received 648 mm of rainfall, compared with the normal 760.6 mm, leaving the country with an overall seasonal deficit of 15 per cent. The figures underline the growing pressure on the monsoon after a weak and uneven season marked by prolonged dry spells across large parts of the country. September is particularly crucial this year because many kharif crops are now at critical growth stages and depend on adequate rainfall and soil moisture. A prolonged rainfall shortfall could affect crops such as rice, cotton, soybean, maize, pulses and oilseeds.The state-wise rainfall map reveals a deeply uneven monsoon. Several large agricultural states are staring at significant deficits. Rajasthan, Bihar and Chhattisgarh have recorded substantial shortfalls during the season, while Andhra Pradesh has emerged as one of the worst-hit states, with an exceptionally large rainfall deficit.The September picture is even more alarming across parts of central and southern India. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Chhattisgarh are among regions that have seen rainfall plunge below normal levels in the first nine days of the month.At the same time, a satellite image from September 10 shows a striking reduction in cloud cover over large parts of the Indian subcontinent. While significant cloud systems remain active over parts of the Bay of Bengal and surrounding regions, vast stretches of western, central and northern India appear relatively cloud-free.The weakening cloud activity comes as the monsoon enters its final phase, raising fears that there may be limited time left for the seasonal rainfall deficit to recover.The shortfall is also becoming an economic concern. Nearly half of India's districts have reported below-average rainfall, according to recent reports, raising the risk of lower agricultural output and putting additional pressure on water resources and food prices.While fresh weather systems could still bring heavy rain to some parts of the country, the distribution of rainfall remains highly uneven.The key question now is whether the remaining weeks of the monsoon can deliver a final burst strong enough to narrow India's growing rainfall deficit.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 10:50 IST