This year's monsoon in India began retreating from the northwest about a week later than usual, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.
India's annual monsoon rainfall provides about 70% of the water needed for agriculture and to fill reservoirs and hydroponics, the mainstay of the nearly $3.5 trillion economy. Without irrigation, about half of India's agricultural land depends on monsoon rains, which typically last from June to September.
The monsoon normally begins in June and begins retreating by September 17, but this year the rains continued, filling reservoirs but damaging crops in some states that were ready to be harvested.
Reuters reported in August that monsoon rains this year could extend until late September due to the development of a low-pressure area.
According to the IMD, monsoon rainfall so far this season has been 5.5% above average.
The IMD said conditions are favourable for further withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan and parts of Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat during the next 24 hours.
