Rainfall 37% above normal so far

NEW DELHI: The monsoon has continued its stunning performance, delivering 37% above normal rainfall so far on Tuesday, which has raised the total rainfall this season from defi cit to normal.

The uptick in the monsoon is expected to continue at least until the end of this month, which will be a big boon for farmers during the crucial planting period.

On Tuesday, the monsoon reached some more parts of Kutch area in Gujarat and some more parts of west Rajasthan.

Over the next two days the weather offi ce has forecast extremely heavy rains over parts of Madhya Pradesh. It said that heavy rain were likely at a few places over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha (Maharashtra),Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Coastal Karnataka and Kerala.

Rains were expected to continue till July 9 over central, eastern and south India. In its forecast from July 10-12, the weather offi ce said that rainfall at most places very likely along west coast, northeastern states, central India and northern plains.