Both branches of the southwest monsoon have become active, leading to 'good' rainfall in many parts of the country even as several regions, including the capital where the monsoon has not moved in so far, woke up to pre-monsoon showers on Wednesday.

The southwest monsoon has advanced further to cover parts of Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, most of Andhra Pradesh, excluding some regions in Telangana, and parts of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal, Indian Meteorological Department official Dr S K Subramanian said in Delhi.

While the Arabian Sea branch has been progressing smoothly, the Bay of Bengal branch had become sluggish. On Wednesday, the Bay of Bengal branch moved for the first time since June 7, to cover parts of Orissa and Gangetic West Bengal, he said.

Moderate to heavy rainfall has been reported in parts of Gujarat, West Bengal and Orissa. The west coast has been receiving good rains, Subramanian said.

Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Punjab, Uttaranchal, and Haryana witnessed pre-monsoon showers, he said.

"Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana recorded a sudden fall in temperature," officials said.

Morning temperature in Delhi dropped to 24 degree Celsius, six degree below normal.

Attributing the pre-monsoon rains to a 'cyclonic disturbance' in coastal Gujarat and easterly flow of winds over west Uttar Pradesh, they said more such showers are likely in the next 24 hours.

Monsoons and India