New Delhi (PTI) The delayed southwest monsoon appears to have picked up momentum in several parts of the country with as many as 21 sub-divisions receiving normal to excess rains except the northwestern region.

The country as a whole has received near normal rainfall last week and 21 out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions received normal to excess rains, the weather office said.

In the rest 15 sub-divisions, rainfall was either deficient or scanty, it said.

Peninsular region received widespread rains -- 23 per cent more rainfall than the normal -- with west coast accounting for very heavy falls.

Central and northeast India also received near normal rainfall. However, rainfall was deficient by 59 per cent over northwestern parts of the country.

West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat sub-divisions were the worst affected with rainfall deficiency of more than 60 per cent, weatherman said.

The northwestern region is expected to experience scattered rainfall activity during the next week with Uttar Pradesh likely to get fairly widespread rains over the next couple of days.

A fresh spell of good rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is likely over many parts of east and central India, the weather office said.

Also see: