Monsoon at Delhi’s doorstep

August 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath said on Friday that the country has enough foodgrain reserves even in the worst monsoon situation. Nath, however, expressed his concern over the adverse impact of poor monsoon on agricultural activity.

July 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Admitting that the delayed monsoon was posing a serious problem, the government Friday hoped the situation would improve soon. The problem is serious, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha, adding: I hope the situation will improve soon.

July 2nd, 2009 SHIMLA - The southwest monsoon was below normal in Himachal Pradesh Thursday after remaining active during the past two days, weather officials here said. "There was a lull in the monsoon in most parts of the hill state Thursday.

June 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The national capital's wait for the rains finally came to an end Tuesday as the monsoon reached the city, bringing with it showers and the much-needed respite from days of scorching heat. The sharp shower in the evening brought smiles to the faces of Delhiites, who have been reeling under acute power and water shortage coupled with rising temperatures over the last few days.

June 30th, 2009 SHIMLA - The monsoon reached Himachal Pradesh Tuesday and the state experienced showers throughout the day, leading to a drop in temperature. "The monsoon hit the hill state this (Tuesday) afternoon.

June 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Dust storms and drizzle in Delhi and other parts of north India Sunday afternoon that brought some relief from sweltering heat signal an advancing southwest monsoon, according to met officials. "Dust storms and mild thundershowers like what Delhi experienced today are precursors to the advancing monsoon, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Ajit Tyagi told IANS.

June 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The southwest monsoon Friday moved further into central India, bringing heavy rain in many parts of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, an India Meteorological Department official said. "The monsoon has progressed into Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa causing heavy rainfall at some places," the official said.

June 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - There was no progress in southwest monsoon in the country Thursday and the rain-bearing clouds continue to be over southern Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said here. "There is no progress in the southwest monsoon and it is over central Arabian Sea, south Gujarat and some parts of Maharashtra," IMD director B.P Yadav told IANS.

June 23rd, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - Amid worries of a delayed monsoon, large parts of Gujarat have received pre-monsoon showers in the 24 hours to Tuesday afternoon, an official said here. A total of 56 sub-districts in 17 districts have witnessed pre-monsoon activity with rains ranging from 3 mm to 10 cm being received during the period, the agriculture department official said.

June 23rd, 2009 RANCHI - With no signs of the heat abating any time soon, farmers in Jharkhand may be in deep trouble. If the monsoon continues to be delayed, the state may find itself facing a drought.

June 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi will continue to bake for another 10 days due to a delayed monsoon. According to the Met department, the monsoon reached Mumbai Sunday and is expected to hit the national capital around July 1.

May 23rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The The eagerly awaited southwest monsoon hit Kerala Saturday, a week ahead of its normal date, bringing cheer to farmers in the state. The onset of the monsoon was confirmed after widespread rainfall over south Kerala for the last four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

May 23rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday said that conditions were favourable for the onset of monsoon in Kerala by Sunday. The IMD said on its website that the conditions were also favourable for further advance of the monsoon into some parts of south Arabian Sea, some parts of extreme south peninsula, parts of south Bay of Bengal and some more parts of central Bay of Bengal during the same period.

May 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Councillors of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Monday criticized the condition of drains in the capital saying that they were likely to overflow during the monsoon, despite claims by the MCD commissioner that 95 percent desilting had already been carried out. At the MCD's standing committee meeting, councillors of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party criticized MCD Commissioner K.S.

April 17th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The country will experience 'near normal' monsoon this year, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Friday forecast. 'The rainfall during the 2009 South-West monsoon season from June to September in the country is likely to be near normal,' said a statement from the IMD.