The India Meteorological Department announced that the southwest monsoon withdrawal is expected to commence from west Rajasthan around September 19.
The all-India monsoon deficit stood at -15% as of September 13, with major deficits recorded in the south peninsula at -28% and east-northeast India at -25%.
Key agrarian states facing rainfall deficits include Punjab at -40%, Bihar at -35%, Karnataka at -29%, and Kerala at -27%, with recovery unlikely.