Delhi today had its date with southwest monsoon, three days ahead of its normal onset in the city, bringing cheers to citizens reeling under severe hot and humid conditions.

“The southwest monsoon has hit the capital three days ahead of its normal arrival,” Mr B.P. Yadav, Director of MeT Department, told PTI.

Today, the rains started around 5 am and the rain gauges measured 72 mm of showers in Narela weather station, 52 mm in Peetampura, 25 mm in PUSA area, 8 mm in Najafgarh, 2.4 mm in Safdurjung and 2 mm in Delhi University.

The measurement of rain in Palam weather station was 1.7 mm while the same was 1.4 mm in Lodhi colony station, one mm in each in Akshardhan and Yamuna Sports Complex stations.

The showers brought down the minimum temperature to 25.9 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal and down from yesterday's 30 degrees.

Last year, the monsoon had a late arrival in the capital. The seasonal rains started only on July 5 last year after a delay of a week.

The earliest onset of monsoon over Delhi during the past 30 years was on June 15, 2008 and while the most delayed onset was on July 26, 1987.

In 2010, Delhi had recorded 772.3 mm of rains compared with normal rains of 645.7 mm. However, in 2009 the city received deficient rains.

The official said northwest India, which includes Delhi, is likely to get around 97 per cent of the average rains.

In the National Capital Region, the heaviest rainfall was received in Hindon which recorded 52 mm of rains, followed by 38 mm in Meerut, 37 mm in Indrapuram, Rohtak 33 mm, Sonepat 20 mm, Mungespur 15 mm, Noida 13 mm, Gurgaon 10 mm and Jhajjar 8 mm.

Helpline

Have complaints about water-logging, fallen trees or dangerous buildings during this monsoon?

Now help is just a ring away with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi setting up a round-the-clock control room to address the issues during the rainy season.

The citizens can either contact the central control room at the MCD headquarters or the helplines in all the 12 Zonal offices, a senior MCD official said.

Any complaint regarding water-logging, fallen trees, manhole covers, sanitation, repair of potholes, dangerous buildings and removal of dead animals will be addressed by the helplines.

The central control room can be contacted through telephone lines 1266, 011-23212700, 011-23220010, 011-23220016 and 011-23220037.

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