Subdued monsoon likely to revive soon

After remaining subdued in most parts of the country since June 11, the southwest monsoon is likely to revive from June 24, the Indian Meteorological department (IMD) officials stated.

According to IMD officials, the conditions are likely to get favorable for the advancement of southwest monsoon from June 24 and might make progress in Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Odisha. "Under normal conditions, the monsoon would have covered parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh as well as east Uttar Pradesh. However, in absence of cyclonic systems, the advancement of the monsoon has been halted which is likely to revive by this weekend," IMD official said.

Monsoon arrived early this year, hitting Kerala in late May, three days in advance of its normal onset. It continued to make good progress and it covered southern peninsula, most parts of North-East and some parts of West Bengal.

However depression over Bangladesh diverted the moisture away to the east which resulted in less rainfall in India last week. A shortage of 4 per cent rainfall has been recorded in the country till June 20.