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The Centre is closely monitoring the below-normal monsoon and potential drought conditions in parts of the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday after chairing a high-level review meeting on the rainfall situation.
The meeting, attended by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and senior officials from multiple ministries and agencies, reviewed the impact of deficient rainfall in parts of the country due to El Niño and discussed measures to minimise its effect on agriculture and water resources.
India Records Fifth-Driest June Since 1901
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), June 2026 was the fifth-driest June since rainfall records began in 1901. The country received 99.5 mm of rainfall against the normal 165.3 mm during the month, registering
a deficit of about 39.8%.
“The government is continuously monitoring the situation regarding below-normal rainfall and potential drought conditions in certain parts of the country due to El Nino,” Shah said, directing the agriculture ministry and other central ministries to remain vigilant.
Also Read: After The ‘Cruel Summer’, Monsoon Arrived In Delhi. But Where Is The Rain?
He also asked officials to coordinate with state governments and advise farmers on suitable crops for the ongoing kharif sowing season.
According to an official statement, Shah and Chouhan “reviewed the situation regarding below-normal rainfall and its impact in certain parts of the country due to El Nino.”
‘Promote Crops That Need Less Water’
Shah stressed the need to ensure adequate electricity supply to farmers, keep a close watch on reservoir water levels and promote crops that require less water.
The home minister instructed the Department of Water Resources to monitor reservoirs across the country and emphasised the cultivation of less water-intensive crops such as fodder, millets and pulses.
He also directed the Power Secretary to take necessary steps to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate supply of electricity.
The government said sufficient stocks of essential food grains, including rice and wheat, are available, while prices of essential commodities remain stable.
The rainfall deficit has already affected kharif sowing. As of June 25, the area under kharif crops stood at 182.72 lakh hectares, down 23 per cent from the corresponding period last year.
Also Read: Roads Waterlogged, Traffic Snarls As Heavy Rain Batters Mumbai, Red Alert Issued
Central India recorded the sharpest rainfall deficit in June at 50.4 per cent. The monthly rainfall for July is also expected to remain below normal.
The review meeting was attended by the home secretary, agriculture secretary and senior officials from the ministries of Water Resources, Consumer Affairs, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Power, Rural Development, and the Department of Science and Technology.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Central Water Commission, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the National Remote Sensing Centre also participated in the meeting.
Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods Batter Assam, Arunachal
Shah further directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to depute an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to assess damage caused by recent heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides.
Assam has witnessed flooding in several districts due to rising river levels, while Arunachal Pradesh has reported landslides and road blockages in multiple hilly areas.
El Niño is one of the three phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate phenomenon marked by changes in sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, along with associated atmospheric variations.
Its opposite phase, La Niña, is generally associated with a cooling effect, while ENSO also has a neutral phase.
With inputs from PTI
