Monsoon advances to central region

By Ratnajyoti Dutta

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's monsoon has revived and advanced after a prolonged weak phase to the central region comprising the states of Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh, the country's top weather official said on Saturday.

The monsoon has entered central India, about four days ahead of earlier forecasts by the weather office.

India's monsoon displayed a weak phase for about two weeks from June 7, then showed marginal revival in the South-Western coasts.

It has so far covered southern, eastern region and parts of Western India.

"We expect good rainfall in the next seven to 10 days," Ajit Tyagi, director general of the India Meteorological Department told Reuters.

India's monsoon rainfall during June 1 to June 24 was 52.8 mm, 54 percent below the normal rainfall.

Tyagi said the monsoon revival would speed up crop sowing in the central region, a major producer of soya beans, rice and sugarcane.

"We are still hopeful of a good monsoon despite the weak phase," Tyagi said.