IMD forecast 5% less than average monsoon

The country is expected to receive five per cent less than average rainfall during the south-west monsoon season this year, the weather office said. However, weather officials said the monsoon rains will be "normal" during the season and sought to allay any possible apprehensions of the farming community. The rainfall in 2006 was 100 percent of the long period average, higher than 93 percent it forecast in April last year.