Southwest Monsoon hits the Kerala coast

The southwest monsoon hit the Kerala coast on Thursday night.

The Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam areas of the state reportedly have been receiving heavy rainfall since morning.

"Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala, today, June 5, 2015 as against the normal date of June 1," the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"It has further advanced into entire south Arabian Sea, some more parts of Central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of coastal and southern interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, remanining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of central and northeast Bay of Bengal," it said.

Initially, Kerala was expecting the monsoon to arrive on May 30, but the MET department later revised the estimated date to June 5.

Meanwhile, authorities in Kochi, including the coastal police, have started taking precautionary measures.

The monsoon is expected to hit North India by the end of June. 

Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, and Tamil Nadu also experienced thunderstorms on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Union Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Thursday said it will not "affect" us as the country has "sufficient" food that can last for at least one year.

"Bad monsoon is not an issue it will not affect us, as we have good stock of grain-storage. It can last for at least one year. Nobody will remain hungry," Paswan said.

The MeT department has predicted "deficient" monsoon and revised its forecast from 93% to 88% for this year, with northwest region of the country expected to be hit the most.

Monsoon has arrived in Kerala! #visitkerala #monsoon #Kerala #visitkerala pic.twitter.com/y0hnu5D5Ie

— Kerala Tourism (@KeralaTourism) June 5, 2015

(With Agency Inputs)