The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that the country could record below average rainfall this year, a significant shift from earlier predictions of surplus rain. IMD's head of long range forecast DS Pai told Reuters, "Our forecast of a surplus rainfall has gone wrong."

According to two other officials of the weather department, the absence of the La Nina weather pattern has resulted in 15% below average rainfall in September. La Nina cools the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America and causes stronger monsoons across Asia. "La Nina didn't develop. Instead we got lower rains in the second half," said one of the officials.

Overall, India has recorded 5% below average rainfall since the onset of the season on June 1 this year.

The new forecast has triggered fears of agricultural losses in the country. After two years of drought, this year's below average rains could reduce yields of summer crops and could also affect hit the plantation of winter crops. The IMD defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96% and 104%.