India's monsoon rains seen falling short of previous forecast

By Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains are likely to be below the prior forecast of 88 percent of the long-term average, the weather office chief said, which could make it the driest year since 2009 and worsen rural distress by cutting farm output. The July-September rains irrigate nearly half of India's farmlands that lack irrigation facilities, bringing relief to millions of poor farmers who till small plots of land to sustain their families. This would be the second st