Jaipur, July 19 -- After an extended dry spell and weeks of below-normal rainfall, Rajasthan is expected to witness a revival of monsoon activity from July 19, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting increased rainfall across eastern, southeastern and later western parts of the state. The anticipated improvement is expected to provide much-needed relief to farmers, improve soil moisture for Kharif crops and boost inflows into reservoirs that continue to remain well below last year's levels. According to the IMD's Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, parts of the Kota, Bharatpur and Jaipur divisions are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall from July 19. Rain activity is expected to intensify further on July 20 and 21, when isolated places in eastern and southeastern Rajasthan could receive heavy rainfall. The weather department has also predicted a significant increase in rainfall over western and central Rajasthan from July 21-22. Up to July 18, the state has received only 112.87 mm of rainfall against the normal seasonal average of 134.83 mm, leaving rainfall 16.29% below normal. During the corresponding period in 2025, it recorded 272.21 mm rainfall. This year's cumulative rainfall is nearly 59% lower. The weak monsoon has also affected the state's water reserves. According to the Water Resources Department, 693 reservoirs held 5,919.09 million cubic metres (Mcum) of water as on July 17, equivalent to 45.43% of total storage capacity. On the same date last year, storage was 8,234.55 Mcum or 63.20% capacity. Only 7 reservoirs are currently full, 404 are partially filled and 282 remain empty....