After a rapid progress since its onset over Kerala on May 29, there are indications that the southwest monsoon could play truant for a couple of days.
Current observations show that the monsoon system was expected to remain active for the next few days and was likely to take a break over the weekend.
In its outlook for the week beginning June 25, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast decrease in rainfall activity over east and central India.
Regions along the west coast and north-east India could get fairly widespread rains or thundershowers, while rainfall would be subdued over south interior peninsula, the weather office said.
Before entering into the break phase, monsoon could cover almost the entire country barring some areas in the north-west region including western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The subsequent weak phase may last for about three to four days.
Monsoon sets in over Delhi by June 29 and scientists believe that the capital could witness seasonal rains on time if the break phase remains brief as envisaged.
For the short term, the IMD forecast that the monsoon was likely to advance over some more parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh over the next two to three days.
For the first 15 days of the season, the country had received a rainfall of three per cent more than the normal for the period.
The southern peninsular region led the table with a rainfall of 46 per cent more than the normal for the region, while parts of Gujarat and western Rajasthan saw scanty rains.
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I&B will use SMSes to reach people
Nitin Mahajan
New Delhi
June 19: The government has decided to reach out to the aam aadmi directly through new age technology. Union information and broadcasting ministry is planning to reach out to the common man through SMSes to their mobiles in an effort to spread the message of Bharat Nirman and various flagship schemes initiated by the UPA government for the welfare of the country’s citizens.
Official sources stated that the I&B ministry has instructed the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) to prepare a comprehensive plan to reach out to the common man through text messages. It is understood that through such messages the government will be able to raise awareness regarding various welfare schemes that are currently being undertaken. The move is also likely to benefit the government as it will help ensure better reach.