India's southwest monsoon usually arrives around June, brings most of the country's annual rainfall and begins to retreat by September.
Its timing and intensity have always varied, but the broad pattern was predictable enough for farmers, cities and businesses to plan around it. Now, this natural rhythm increasingly seems like a thing of the past.
More than 100 people have been killed across India since late July as heavy monsoon rains triggered floods, landslides and lightning strikes.
The northeastern state of Assam has borne the brunt, with more than 120,000 people affected by flooding. Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Jharkhand have also reported deaths and widespread disruption.
India's capital New Delhi has also been affected by floodingImage: Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times/Sipa USA/picture alliance
