Four days after its expected date, the much awaited south-west monsoon finally reached Kerala on Friday.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the monsoon has set in the Kerala and has advanced further into the Arabian Sea.
#Monsoon expected to hit North east states in next 2-3 days: IMD | READ | http://t.co/43mvW85jQv
— Focus News (@FocusNewsIndia) June 5, 2015
#Monsoon has touched the #Karnataka & #Kerala, expected to touch #AndhraPradesh too: #IMD | READ | http://t.co/43mvW85jQv — Focus News (@FocusNewsIndia) June 5, 2015
“The south-west monsoon has set in over Kerala, today against the normal date of June 1. It has advanced further into the entire South Arabian Sea, some parts of Central Arabian Sea, the entire Lakshadweep Area and Kerala, some parts of the coastal and south interior of Karnataka And Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of central and northeast bay of Bengal,”the IMD statement reads.
ALSO READ: Centre To Provide Subsidy To Farmers In Case Of Deficient Monsoon
Earlier on Tuesday, Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan said this year’s forecast for monsoon rains would be 88 per cent of the long-term average, raising fears of drought in the country where nearly half of farmland lacks irrigation facilities.
Monsoon wind direction in India. (Graphics: PTI)
ALSO READ: FM Arun Jaitley Downplays Monsoon Fears; Says Govt Has Enough Food Stocks