India is experiencing a significant rainfall shortfall with forecasts indicating below-normal monsoon rains in July. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the developing conditions on Friday and instructed ministries to stay alert for possible drought in several regions. During a high-level discussion with Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and senior officials, Shah noted that the central government is tracking the effects of reduced rainfall associated with El Nino. He called for close coordination with states to limit effects on farmers and key supplies, according to PTI. India saw one of its driest Junes since 1901, with just 99.5 mm of rain, about 40 percent below average, marking the fifth-lowest June total on record. Central India faced the largest shortfall, exceeding 50 percent. Shah directed the Agriculture Ministry and other departments to stay watchful and guide states on suitable crops for areas with low rainfall. He also asked the Water Resources Department to monitor reservoir levels nationwide and promote crops needing less water, such as millets, pulses and fodder. The Power Ministry was told to maintain steady electricity supply. Officials reported sufficient stocks of food grains and stable prices for essentials. The India Meteorological Department predicts below-normal July rainfall, raising worries about sowing, storage and water access. Shah further ordered the Home Ministry to send an inter-ministerial team to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to evaluate damage from recent floods and landslides. Senior officials from multiple ministries attended the meeting. El Nino conditions persist over the Pacific and are expected to intensify during the monsoon, typically reducing Indian rainfall. The Indian Ocean Dipole remains neutral and unlikely to counter the El Nino effect.
