New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- Torrential rains have battered summer-planted crops in key food-bowl states, especially in the northern and central plains, including paddy, cotton, gram and soyabean, said officials and farmers. The monsoon has dumped overall 8% excess rainfall since its onset in June, as precipitation in August in Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was nearly 50% above normal. Punjab received 74% above-normal rainfall in August, leading to its worst flood in four decades. Overflowing rivers have submerged standing crops, raising the risk of pest attacks, yellowing and stunted yields. Rainfall deviations of between 14% to 10% are known to affect sowing, yields and prices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who toured Himachal Pradesh an...