Monsoon rains have finally arrived in some parts of India, bringing down the temperature and providing some relief from the scorching heat.
This year the southwest monsoon arrived on cue in Kerala on the normal date of onset i.e. 1 June. The monsoon has also covered Karnataka, entire Arunachal Pradesh and Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Maharashtra, some parts of Gujarat and some parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
In Delhi and surrounding areas the monsoon is expected to arrive as early as 18 June, 11 days before the usual date.
"The monsoon is progressing rapidly and is likely to arrive over Delhi and its neighbourhood a week in advance, plus or minus four days. It is likely to be more in the range of minus four days than plus four days or between June 18 and 22," Director-General of India Meteorological Department L.S. Rathore said, according to The Hindu.
This year the rains have covered half of India in two days before the scheduled date, and more heavy rainfall is expected next week, weather experts said on Thursday.
"Monsoon rains have advanced slightly more than half of the landmass," one official at the weather department told Reuters.
Adequate rainfall has also relieved the seven southern and western states, including Maharashtra, which were hit by one of the worst droughts.
"There has been plenty of rainfall over drought areas of the southern region and even adjoining Maharashtra has received excess splash," P. Chengal Reddy, the chief of a farmers' body, told Reuters.
Scroll down to see images of the monsoon season in India:
