The rain-starved people of Maharashtra can heave a sigh of relief as the weather bureau is predicting good rainfall in the last week of July.

The people Maharashtra are facing a drought-like situation  and many cities, including Mumbai, have announced water cuts.

The Indian Meteorogical Department is now hopeful that the scenario can change and there was rainfall in Vidarbha region on Tuesday.

"Maharashtra gets rain when low pressure system forms over Bay of Bengal moves across central India or else when monsoon trough gets active in central India," says Dr Shivanand Pai, director, Long Range Forecasting Division, Indian Metrological Department.

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"This year actually these conditions did not obtain. Unfortunately when the monsoon trough was formed it shifted to north India and therefore they had heavy rainfall this time," added Dr Pai.

He however was hopeful since the monsoons in Maharashtra lasts for four months and more than two months were left.

"The amount of rainfall varies from month to month and that is the case every year. If one month there is heavy rain then the next month it rains less. So it may pick up later on," he added.

Asked when he expects rainfall, Dr Pai said, "At present there is no immediate indication but the trough is moving towards Maharashtra. I am hopeful that by month end we will see rainfall in Maharashtra."

He concluded by stating, "The deficiency in rainfall can be made up in the next two months as this has happened many times earlier."