Southwest monsoon inches northwards; covers Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh

Southwest Monsoon started northwards on Thursday after a 10-day lull, covering parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and large tracts of Vidarbha, bringing relief to the parched regions that were reeling under hot weather conditions. India Meteorological Department data showed the country has received 17 per cent deficient rainfall than normal this monsoon season -- 77 mm as against the normal of 92.8 mm between June 1 and 20. "Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Northwest Bay of Bengal, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Bihar," the weather office said. The IMD said conditions were favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gangetic and sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh during the next three to four days. After reaching the Indian mainland two days earlier than usual and swiftly covering many other states, the .