The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that June had an 11% rainfall deficit in India—the greatest in five years—with 147.2 mm falling short of the average 165.3 mm, the lowest since 2001. Rainfall in June, which makes up 15% of the total precipitation during the monsoon season, began early in Kerala and the northeast but slowed down until Maharashtra. The impact of the heat wave in northwest India worsened as a result of this delay, which prolonged the wait for rains across West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi’s heavy rains caused four fatalities.
