India witnessed the driest August in more than a century as the country received 36% less rainfall than normal in 2023, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday.

The country has received 10% lower rainfall than normal from June 1 to August 31, the IMD data showed.

The monsoon, vital for the $3-trillion economy, delivers nearly 70% of the rain India needs to water farms and refill reservoirs and aquifers. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Sharon Singleton)