India's Monsoon Rainfall Deficit Reaches 13% Amid Early Retreat Signs

India's cumulative rainfall since June 4 remains 13% below normal, with the India Meteorological Department reporting early signs of the southwest monsoon retreating from parts of the country.

Dry northwesterly winds are replacing moisture-laden flows, leading to reduced rainfall across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and Rajasthan as the monsoon trough shifts toward the Himalayan foothills.

States including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Karnataka continue to report below-normal seasonal rainfall, raising concerns regarding crop health and soil moisture availability for the remainder of the season.