Monsoon revives; likely to hit central and north India this week: IMD

NEW DELHI: Monsoon activity has revived over the weekend and is making steady advance over central and north India, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said as data revealed that less than 25 per cent of the country received normal or excess rains until now.

Central India and the north Indian plains, that have been witnessing a rise in temperatures, are likely to get some relief in the next two to three days, the meteorological department said. Tribune file photo

New Delhi, June 24

Monsoon activity has revived over the weekend and is making steady advance over central and north India, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said as data revealed that less than 25 per cent of the country received normal or excess rains until now.

Central India and the north Indian plains, that have been witnessing a rise in temperatures, are likely to get some relief in the next two to three days, the meteorological department said.

Conditions are becoming favourable for pre-monsoon thunderstorm activity over parts of northwest India from June 27, IMD's Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said.

The monsoon is expected to hit Delhi on June 29, its normal onset date for the national capital.

After making an early arrival on May 29, three days ahead of its normal on-set date, the Southwest Monsoon battered the coastal parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and south Gujarat.

However, the overall monsoon deficiency till yesterday stood at minus 10 per cent.

Of the four meteorological divisions of the country, only the southern peninsula has recorded 29 per cent more rains. The rainfall deficit was 29 and 24 per cent in east-northeast and northwest India respectively.

Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions in the country, 24 subdivisions have received "deficient" and "largely deficient rainfall". This means, less than 25 per cent of the country has received "normal" or "excess" rainfall.

"The monsoon has revived from June 23. It has today advanced to Gujarat's Saurashtra (region), Veraval, Ahemdabad, and Maharashtra's Amravati. On the eastern side, it has covered the entire Assam, reached Jalpaiguri in north West Bengal and Midnapore in south West Bengal. The North Indians plains will receive pre-monsoon thunder showers on June 27," Mohapatra said.

In the next 48 hours, the remaining parts of Odisha, West Bengal, some parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, remaining parts of Maharashtra, and east Uttar Pradesh will witness monsoon showers, he said. PTI