Monsoon 11 per cent below normal: Met Dept

However,weather scientists have said that there was no need for alarm as there was still hope for improvement in rainfall across the country.

The southwest monsoon,which is nearly 10 days behind its normal schedule over north India,is expected to strengthen with the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.

“Conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into parts of Bihar,Chhattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh and some parts of east Uttar Pradesh during next 3-4 days,” the weather office said.

Since their onset on May 31,monsoon rains have made staggered progress and stopped in the tracks due to cyclone ‘Phet’,delaying their advance by at least 10 days to the breadbasket northern region,as well as central and northwestern parts of the country which mainly grow oilseeds.