NEW DELHI, June 27: Indian meteorologists today reiterated that the monsoon was progressing well, dismissing as ``hypothetical fears'' reports from the US that the El Nino phenomenon - appearance of warm waters off the coast of South America - could trigger a drought in India.

``There is no need to raise fears of a weak monsoon in India," Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) officials clarified, referring to reports first from Germany, and later from the US that El Nino could adversely affect this year's rainfall in India.

Latest satellite imagery obtained this morning showed a deep monsoon depression in the Bay of Bengal, which is a good sign for the country's monsoon, said officials at IMD.

Such depressions auger well for a monsoon as they strengthen existing monsoon winds and bring fresh ones into the mainland. The depression is expected to move in a north-westerly direction and produce rain in central parts of India in the next 24 hours. It may also bring in showers in parts of northern India, IMD officials said.

They maintained they were not ``frightened by the forecasts of a weak monsoon in the country,'' and dismissed reports that Indian meteorologists have been advised not to publicise reports of a possible poor monsoon.

Even in the worst case scenario of 88 per cent average rainfall in India (based on the lower range of IMD forecast), rainfall will still not be deficient, IMD officials said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.