Depression to bring early rain

The onset of the southwest monsoon is likely to advance further due to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday night, the Met department said on Sunday.

The Met department said that rain was likely to begin in Kerala by May 30-31, marking the onset of monsoon in the country. India Meteorological Department director general K J Ramesh said the deep depression would help in the advancement of the monsoon over Kerala and the northeast.

“Conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into some parts of southeast Arabian Sea, Maldives area, some more parts of Comorin area, southwest Bay of Bengal and east central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of west central and northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours.

At least 11 people died in lightning and rain-related incidents in Bihar on Sunday, even as hot weather conditions continued in many parts of the country.