Monsoon hits hinterland

Odisha, Maharashtra see heavy rain; North receives light showers

Most parts of Odisha and Maharashtra began receiving heavy rains in the last couple of days, signalling the arrival of monsoon to the hinterland.

Weather also changed in the northern states, bringing much needed respite from the scorching summer.

In Odisha, monsoon entered through the southern districts of Malkangiri and Koraput. Heavy rains have been reported in some pockets, with the weather department saying that the monsoon would cover the whole state in a day or two.

Both the southern districts, especially Malkangiri, have been receiving heavy showers throughout Saturday, while Odisha capital Bhubaneswar also experienced a spell of heavy downpours on Saturday afternoon, recording 14 mm rains.

“Monsoon arrived in the state through the districts of Malkangiri and Koraput. Hopefully the entire state will be covered by it within a day or two. The condition is favourable for that”, Director of the local met office Sarat Chandra Sahu said.

The Met office has predicted heavy rains in the interior parts of Odisha until June 18.
Meanwhile, almost all the districts of Maharashtra are reporting rain in the last couple of days, signalling monsoon’s arrival.  Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) experienced overnight rains on two consecutive days, which brought temperatures down in the commercial capital. 

IMD’s Regional Meteorological Observatory in Mumbai predicts heavy rainfall over Konkan-Goa and North Madhya Maharashtra during the next 24 hours.

Mumbai recorded 25 mm rainfall since Saturday morning, while rains have also been reported from Nagpur, the commercial centre of Vidarbha region.

With rains lashing Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri and Raigad in Konkan region, preparations are on for the crop season in the region and other parts.

In Delhi and other northern states, heavy dust storm preceded rains on Saturday, announcing the end to the heat wave that continued for several days.

Haryana and Punjab also witnessed dust storm followed by light showers.
According to Meteorological department in Chandigarh, the dust storm hit Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mahendergarh, Rohtak, Ambala and Panchkula in Haryana.

In Punjab, the storm swept through Mohali, Ropar and Amritsar among other places.
Power supply was disrupted for a while in Chandigarh after the dust storm. The light showers in the city relieved residents from the oppressing heat.

Arrival of monsoon was also reported in south Gujarat and other parts of the state. Rains also arrived in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where more than thousands succumbed to heat waves.