Monsoon rains cover half of India: Weather official

Mumbai: Annual monsoon rains have covered nearly half of India and conditions are favourable for further advancement into the central and western parts this week, a weather department official said on Monday. 

The monsoon's progress will help farmers to accelerate sowing of summer-sown crops, which has been lagging due to a delay in the arrival of monsoon rains. 

"In last three days, monsoon has gained momentum. It has covered the entire southern and eastern India," said a weather department official, who declined to be named. 

Conditions are favourable for further advancement of monsoon rains into the central state of Madhya Pradesh and the western state of Gujarat, the official said.  

The monsoon has delivered 38% lower-than-normal rainfall since the start of the season on June 1, due to a delay in the progress of monsoon rains, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department.