Early monsoon helping farmers plant kharif crops

NEW DELHI: Monsoon rains have covered Delhi, Punjab and Haryana along with western Uttar Pradesh, according to the weather office. The monsoon has reached most parts of northern India close to the normal date of July 1 despite a week's delay in its onset in Kerala.

The crucial weather system has intensified in the past two weeks, helping farmers plant kharif crops. With the arrival of the monsoon, rainfall is forecast to be higher than normal in northern India for the next week or so.