India, April 19 -- IMD forecasts an above-average monsoon - a silver lining with a dark cloud: floods
As India braces for a searing summer, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has offered a glimmer of hope: this year's southwest monsoon is expected to bring above-normal rainfall, with the country likely to receive 105 per cent of the long-period average. While this forecast may bring a sigh of relief to the agricultural sector and rural economy, it also comes with a note of caution - because with abundant rain often comes devastating floods.
For a country where nearly 60 per cent of agriculture is rain-fed, the monsoon is nothing short of a lifeline. A good monsoon translates to better crop yields, improved groundwater recharge, rep...