New Delhi, June 17 -- India's weather bureau said on Wednesday that a new western disturbance is likely to affect northwestern India starting 18 June, even as 60% of the country's districts recorded 'deficient' or 'large deficient' rainfall over 1-16 June. A low-pressure storm system originating over the Mediterranean, a western disturbance brings sudden rain, sharp winds, and cooler temperatures to northern India.

Data from IMD showed that 245 of India's 741 districts received 'deficient' rainfall, while 214 were marked 'large deficient' over this period. In IMD terminology, 'large deficient' means a region suffered a severe rainfall shortage, missing more than 60% of its usual rain for that period.

Meanwhile, conditions remain favoura...