A low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal can signal the reactivation of the monsoon in Maharashtra, the India Meteorological Department said as Pune and its surrounding regions as well as other parts of the state reported rain on Thursday.
The IMD said in a press statement issued Thursday that the monsoon trough at present lies along the foothills of the Himalayas and its easterly region. The trough is expected to move south of its normal position in the next four-five days. A cyclonic circulation active over the Bay of Bengal would develop into a low-pressure area in the next few days.
According to Anupam Kashyapi, head (climate forecast) at IMD, this low-pressure area can signal a revival of the monsoon in the state. This comes as a major relief to farmers worried about the future of their crops.
Since Thursday morning, parts of Pune have been witnessing rain. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Vidarbha and Marathwada, with areas of Vidarbha likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain. Light to moderate rain is expected in other areas of Vidarbha. There are chances of heavy to very heavy rain and thundershowers in some areas of Marathwada. Konkan and central Marathwada, which includes Pune, will see light to moderate rainfall.
The revival of the monsoon comes at a time when most crops, especially in Vidarbha and Marathwada, are in the vegetative growth state and require another spell of rainfall. Even sugarcane, the staple crop of western Maharashtra, has suffered from moisture stress. The rain is expected to help in ensuring normality in the crop.
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