India will experience above-normal cumulative rainfall this monsoon, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday, ruling out the possibility of El Nino conditions during the entire season. The forecast brings positive news for agriculture and the economy, with the sector contributing 18 per cent to India's GDP and supporting the livelihoods of more than 42 per cent of the population.
As per a PTI report, around 52 per cent of the country’s net cultivated area depends on monsoon rains, which are also crucial for drinking water supply and power generation. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, India is likely to see above-normal rainfall in the four-month monsoon season (June to September) with cumulative rainfall estimated at 105 per cent of the long-period average of 87 cm. El-Nino conditions, which contribute to below-normal monsoon in the Indian subcontinent, are also unlikely to develop this year.
The monsoon typically arrives in Kerala around June 1 and begins its retreat by mid-September. However, climate experts note a shift in rainfall patterns fewer rainy days but more intense downpours, increasing the risk of both droughts and floods.
Parts of the country are already battling extreme heat, and a significantly high number of heat wave days are expected in the April to June period, a PTI report said.