The India Meteorological Department (IMD) have said that the present below average Monsoon rains is mainly due to a shift in monsoon to north of its normal position.

It is believed that lull in monsoon will end from Friday across north India but the outlook for the remaining season for this region appears to be low. Scientists have said that the monsoon path will shift towards the south from Friday and this will result in more rains in the region.

“North-west India - Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, west UP and Uttarakhand - has been rain-deficient. Conditions for north-west India are not good for now. Though rain activity will increase now, but we need more rains,” said L. S. Rathore, director general, IMD.

They also said that a upper air cyclonic circulation causing rains has already over the Bay of Bengal. Estimates show that the country has received 22 per cent less rainfall this year and the deficiency is higher at 40 per cent in the northwest region.

The central part of the country has received 26 per cent less rainfall than average and southern region is deficient by 24 per cent. East and north-east India are deficient by 5 per cent.