Patna: Monsoon showers have finally gained momentum in the state with a forecast for moderate to very heavy rainfall across Bihar for the next five days.

Weathermen at the Patna Met office expect moderate to very heavy rainfall in Bihar, as a centre of low pressure builds over northwest Uttar Pradesh and moves southeast to northeast Bay of Bengal via Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur in Bihar and Malda in Bengal.

A scientist at the Patna weather office said: "All districts are likely to receive widespread rainfall and thunderstorm activity in the next five days as southwest monsoon is active over Bihar. Areas falling in east Bihar and south Bihar are likely to receive the maximum rainfall."

Sandeep Kumar from the Patna IMD office said: "Rainfall deficit has dropped further as it was measured at 34 per cent till Saturday morning."

According to official figures, Patna district received 41.2mm rainfall till Saturday 8.30am with a forecast for widespread rainfall till Tuesday.

Muzaffarpur district received the highest rainfall for the day at 74.6mm, followed by Gaya (60.4mm), Darbhanga (25mm), Bhagalpur (23.2mm), Chhapra (13.2mm) and Purnea (4.1mm).

The cities of Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Purnea will experience few spells of rain and thundershower, and generally cloudy skies for the next 24 hours, the weathermen said.

The showers spell cheer for farmers praying for rain the past few weeks.

A. Sattar, agro meteorologist with the Rajendra Agriculture University at Pusa, Samastipur, said: "Widespread rainfall in most parts of the state is beneficial for paddy crops that have already been transplanted. We advise farmers who did not carry out transplantation of crops for lack of rain to do so now.

"There should be at least 30mm rainfall a week for paddy crops to survive. It needs to rain continuously so the that water stagnates in the fields. If it does not, the crops will suffer in terms of growth and yield. But, so far as the present weather conditions are concerned, it is encouraging for farmers," he added.