The Southwest monsoon hits parts of Himachal Pradesh,

Shimla, July 1:  The southwest monsoon on Saturday lashed Himachal Pradesh, with many areas witnessing moderate rainfall in the past 24 hours, the weather bureau said here.

"The monsoon advanced in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu and Mandi districts and parts of Sirmaur, Shimla, Kangra and Chamba districts," the Met Department said in a statement.

It said the monsoon could spread across the entire state within three-four days.

The monsoon normally hits the state by June 27.

State capital Shimla got 25mm rain, with the maximum temperature at 22.3 degrees Celsius.

The weather bureau said the state recorded 128mm of rain from June 1 to date, which is 21 per cent more than the normal precipitation during this period.

All districts, except Bilaspur, Chamba, Mandi and Hamirpur, had received excess rainfall.

Since agriculture is the main occupation of the people in Himachal Pradesh, providing direct employment to 69 per cent of its workforce, good rains augur well for the state.