Mumbai: India’s monsoon is finally advancing after a week-long stall, with rains poised to envelop central regions in the coming days, offering respite from a scorching heatwave in the country’s northern plains, according to two senior weather officials.
Critical for economic growth in Asia’s third-largest economy, summer rains traditionally commence in the south around June 1 and typically cover the entire nation by July 8, facilitating the sowing of major crops like rice, cotton, soybeans, and sugarcane.
“Monsoon is reviving. It was stuck after covering most of Maharashtra, but by the weekend, it will enter Madhya Pradesh,” disclosed an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as reported by the international news agency Reuters. “Western and southern regions will experience heavy rains starting next week. Central parts will also begin receiving showers,” the official added, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions.
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The monsoon arrived nearly two days ahead of schedule in Maharashtra, home to Mumbai, its commercial hub. However, its progression into central and eastern states faced a significant delay of about a week.
Crucial to India’s nearly $3.5-trillion economy, the monsoon supplies about 70% of the country’s rainfall, crucial for irrigating farms and replenishing reservoirs and aquifers. With irrigation systems limited, almost half of India’s agricultural land – a major global producer of rice, wheat, and sugar – depends on these seasonal rains, which typically span from June to September.
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“The monsoon is expected to pick up pace from next week, bringing down temperatures across northern India,” another weather official remarked. He anticipated relief from the ongoing heatwave in northern states by the weekend. IMD data showed maximum temperatures in these regions ranging from 42°C to 46°C (108°F to 115°F) this week, surpassing normal levels by 3°C to 5°C.
Since the onset of June 1, India has experienced rainfall 18% below the normal average, as reported by IMD.
