New Delhi, According to the MeT department, almost half of the Country has been covered by the southwest monsoon, including the drought-hit Marathwada, even as the overall rainfall deficiency has come down to around 22 %.

M Rajeevan, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, said, "Monsoon has covered half of the country". Rajeevan said the monsoon should reach the national capital by last week of the month or early July.

According to the IMD, "The southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, Konkan, Marathawada and Vidarbha, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra and some parts of southwest and east Madhya Pradesh".

"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of north Arabian Sea, south Gujarat region, remaining parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some more parts of Madhya Pradesh and East Uttar Pradesh and remaining parts of Bihar during next 48 hours," the IMD added.

The overall rainfall deficiency, which was 25 % until Saturday, has now dropped to 22 %. It is expected to further drop down, forecast said.