India had its driest June in five years due to a delay in monsoon rains, the weather department said late Sunday, raising fears for crops and the broader economy.
Overall, rains were a third below average, although in some states, including the sugar cane growing northern state of Uttar Pradesh, they were as much as 61 percent down, data from the India Meteorological Department showed.
Over half of India's arable land relies on rainfall, while agriculture makes up about 15 percent of Asia's third-largest economy, which is already suffering a slowdown.