Dry spell in Maharashtra to end by next week

The current prolonged dry spell in Maharashtra is likely to end by September 13 with the weather office predicting a good spell of rain in the third week of this last month of monsoon season.

State Disaster Management Authority Director Suhas Diwase, citing the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, said the dry spell, which started last month, was likely to end in a week. "We are expecting the long dry spell to end by September 13. Rains should resume by start of the third week," he said.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has shelved plans to set up automated weather stations in the state.