India's southwest monsoon continued its strong run over most parts of India for a consecutive week, bringing down the overall rainfall deficiency till September 6 this year for the first time to below 10 per cent. According to the India Meteorological Department, the total shortfall from June 1 to September 6 this year stood at just nine per cent of the Long Period Average.
The week that ended Wednesday also saw one of the heaviest rainfalls this season totalling almost 31 per cent above average. The good rains also brought down drought severity in several parts of the country, particularly in Saurasthtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat and interior Karnataka, where for the first time this season it rained heavily last week.