India remains 15% rainfall deficit as monsoon retreat begins

Monsoon has begun a retreat from the northwestern parts of India even as the country's overall rainfall deficit stood at 15% below normal at 691.9-mm. Nearly 43% of the country's geographical area remains in a rain deficit. The worst affected states include Meghalaya (-59%), Andhra Pradesh (-43%), Arunachal Pradesh (-41%), Bihar (-36%), Goa (-35%), and Karnataka (-31%) as monsoon retreats.