Monsoon sweeps across India, breaks 108 year record in Delhi

     New Delhi, June 15: The South-West Monsoon on Sunday drenched the capital with its first showers of this season, breaking an 108-year-old by their arrival nearly two weeks ahead of the normal onset date of June 29.

     "South-West Monsoon has set in over the capital. It has broken an 108-year-old record," B P Yadav, Director, India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.

     Heavy rains, accompanied by lightning in some areas, lashed the capital since 7:30 a.m., forcing many people to the safe confines of their homes on a Sunday.

     According to the IMD, it was last in 1901 that monsoon arrived in the capital on June 15. Last year, monsoon had set in over Delhi on June 28, while in 1998 the capital received first monsoon showers on June 16.

     South West Monsoon advanced into remaining parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, some more parts of Rajasthan and Haryana including Delhi, IMD said.

     The regional weather office in the capital recorded 30.3 mm rainfall at Safdarjung observatory, 24 mm at Palam and 18.8 mm at Lodhi road between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

     Monsoon, which has been advancing rapidly, has covered the entire country barring some parts of Rajasthan.

     "Conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into the remaining parts of the country during next two-three days," a weather office advisory said.

     The current analysis suggests widespread rains with heavy to very heavy falls over western Himalayan region and northern plains during next three days, it said.

     The Met office has warned of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa.

     Bureau Report

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