Monsoon breaks its hiatus, brings relief from the searing heat wave in many parts

NEW DELHI: Breaking its hiatus, the monsoon on Thursday finally advanced into remaining parts of Maharashtra (Vidarbha), Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Bihar bringing relief to these states from the searing heat wave.
“No heat wave conditions are likely over most parts of the country during next 4-5 days,” said India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday while also noting that the monsoon will now gradually progress towards the remaining parts of the country.
“Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest (summer) monsoon into some more parts of North Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, northwest Bay of Bengal, some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, remaining parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, some parts of Jharkhand, some more parts of Bihar and some parts of east Uttar Pradesh during next 3-4 days,” it said.

Monsoon, which made its onset over Kerala two days in advance and arrived in the north-east six days before its normal date, remained almost at a standstill during June 12-19. The hiatus led to a deficit rainfall situation in the country in June and delayed sowing operations of kharif (summer sown) crops in north and east India including Bihar and Jharkhand.
IMD data showed the country has received 17% deficient rainfall than normal this season -- 77 mm as against the normal of 92.8 mm between June 1 and 20. The country is, however, expected to get good rainfall during the remaining three months (July-September) of the monsoon season.