India, Sept. 16 -- Meghalaya, famed as one of the wettest places on Earth, is facing its highest-ever monsoon rainfall deficit in 2026, with a 59% shortfall and 10 of 11 districts classified as deficient or largely deficient.

This emerging drought-like situation threatens agriculture, water security, and spring-fed drinking supplies, compounding long-term trends of declining monsoon rainfall and climate stress.

The 2026 southwest monsoon season is nearing its end but Meghalaya, one of the rainiest states in India and one of the rainiest places on Earth, experienced the highest deficit in rainfall in the country throughout the season. This is an indication of drought like conditions in the state with possible impacts on agricultural prod...