Monsoon hits Odisha two days early

The southwest monsoon arrived in Odisha Saturday, two days ahead of its usual schedule, an official said.

"It advanced over some parts of south Odisha and conditions are favourable for further advance of the monsoon over some more parts of the state during next three days," a senior official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

Odisha contributes about one-tenth of the country's total rice production. A good monsoon is crucial for the state, which has about 75 percent of its workforce engaged in the agriculture sector.

Monsoon normally reaches the state by June 10. However, it was delayed by a week last year.