Monsoon rains lashes Kochi

Kochi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced the onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala on Thursday, marking the commencement of the four-month rainy season in the country. Rains lashed most places in Lakshadweep and parts of Kerala, according to a weather bulletin in Thiruvananthapuram. "The Southwest Monsoon has made an onset over southern parts of Kerala, IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the rains arrived two days later than their normal schedule of June 1. This is the third time in the last six years that the monsoon arrived late. A good monsoon is critical to the Indian economy which is still largely based on agriculture and its allied activities.