Monsoon revives after 2-week lull

MUMBAI: India's south-west monsoon, which had been stalled since June 7, revived on June 21 and is likely to cover more parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the weather department said on Monday morning.

"Conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon over some more parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, remaining parts of Karnataka and some more parts of Andhra Pradesh during next 2-3 days," India Meteorological Department said on its website.

Maharashtra is the biggest producer of sugar, kharif pulses and second biggest producer of cotton and soybean.

The country's monsoon rainfall during Jun 1-17 was at 39.5 mm, 45 percent below the normal, the India Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

The revived monsoon may cover Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh by first week of July, a senior weather official told Reuters last week.