The whole pattern of climate and atmospheric circulation across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the surrounding continents, was disrupted because of El Nino , which caused droughts in normally wet areas of the country and heavy rains over normally-arid regions across South Asia. This year, El Nino also caused a severe drought in Australia and Papua New Guinea. It has led to a famine in South Africa
The drought, which government officials said was unprecedented in intensity, spread through most of India. Over 300 deaths were reported and about 85 million people were severely affected. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra suffered the most including New Delhi which faced its driest season in 80 years
The year saw the century’s strongest El Nino, but it did not cause a drought in whole of India. In June, July, and August, rainfall was well above average for the country as a whole. September was the only monsoon month that saw less than average rainfall
The year with moderate El Nino, saw one of the worst Indian droughts in the country. The year that saw a drop in monsoon rainfall of more than 15 per cent and corresponding decline in Kharif output of more than 10 per cent was marked by the shortest ever monsoon the country experienced. About 56 per cent of land experienced low monsoons, affecting nearly 300 million people. Agricultural income losses were estimated at Rs 39,000 crore.
With rain failures in July and September, the year suffered one of the major and devastating droughts in India in 20 years. According to government of India, 68 per cent of the country is prone to drought with nearly 33 per cent area having a chronic drought problem while another 35 per cent is drought-prone
Striking of El Nino this year lead to the worst drought in nearly four decades, with rain in the four-month season being 27 per cent below normal. The drought that affected around 400 million and forced the government to declare 315 out of 604 districts across the country as drought-hit, pushed global sugar prices to their highest in around 30 years
The El Nino weather pattern reduced rains in the second half of the June to September season, making it India’s second drought in four years. Between June 1 and August 1, rainfall was about 19 per cent below average and in Punjab--India's "food basket" - rainfall was 70 per cent below average. The global grain prices soared again as the United States was wilting in its own drought - the worst in the country in half a century