The current revival of monsoon holds promise. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Nearly 90 per cent of India’s 166 major reservoirs were half-empty this week, with storage plunging to 26 per cent of the capacity. Two reservoirs, one each in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, are empty, as the country is going through one of its driest Junes in 146 years.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the South-West Monsoon, as of June 25, was 42 per cent deficient, with the central region being the worst hit. The current revival of monsoon holds promise, though the IMD says this may stall after next week. Here we present a visual picture of the precarious storage situation, which could have an impact on kharif crops.

Published on June 25, 2026