THE dilemma over the delay in onset of South-West Monsoon was finally over with the onset over State on Thursday. Amidst the continuous rainfall monsoon has advanced to the Southern region of State with rainfall activity also recorded at Durg and expected to cover entire State in a day or two.

With the MeT Centre warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm very likely at isolated places over State from June 17 to 20, the rainfall activities will get further strengthened and speed-up the monsoon activity over State. Apart from the warning, fairly widespread rainfall is also expected during the four-day warning period.

Meanwhile, rainfall was recorded at many places including Katghora recording 80mm, Kharsia – 60mm, Chindgarh, Akaltara, Manpur, Bijapur, Dongargarh and Shivrinarayan – 50mm each, Balod, Kartala, Podi Uprora, Konta, Masturi, Janjgir and Tamnar- 40mm, Rajnandgaon, Tokapal, Jagdalpur, Dongargarh, Balod, Pali, Bhopalpatnam, Dondi, Dondilohara, Mungeli, Mohla, Churia, Bilaspur, Champa and Kuakonda – 30mm, Charama, Pamgarh, Bhanupratappur, Baloda Bazar, Marwahi, Takhatpur,

Patharia, Deobhog, Udaipur, Gurur, Magarlod, Gariaband, Lakhanpur, Dhamtari, Kota and Korba – 20mm each while below 20mm rainfall was recorded at many places in the state on Thursday. With the Monsoon activity further strengthening, the Met Centre has forecast of light to medium rainfall along with thunderstorm at many places in the state on June 17. The sky will be partly cloudy with chances of light to medium rainfall in the evening or night hours over Raipur on Friday.