Hyderabad, Jul 21 (IANS): Widespread rains in Andhra Pradesh since Friday have improved the situation, overcoming the deficit rainfall this monsoon and bringing cheers to farmers, officials said.

The incessant rains under the impact of low pressure area along the coast have come as a relief for the state, which was facing the threat of a drought due to insufficient rains since the arrival of monsoon last month.

Deputy director, disaster management, Ratna Kumar told reporters Saturday that the state had so far received 223 mm rainfall against the normal rainfall of 229 mm.

The coastal Andhra region, comprising nine districts, received 12 percent excess rainfall. Telangana region, which has 10 districts, has also received rainfall one percent above the normal. However, Rayalaseema region, which comprises four districts, has 6.8 percent deficit rainfall.

The official said Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area received 15.2 cm rainfall in 12 hours ending 8.30 a.m. Saturday. Nine persons were killed due to incidents of wall collapse and several residential areas were inundated.

The monsoon, which become active due to the low pressure area, revived the hopes of farmers. Officials said the rains would improve levels in the reservoirs and also step up agriculture activity.

The rainfall deficit for the entire state was put at 17 percent last week but the rains over last couple of days have brought this deficit down to three percent.

The normal rainfall for the state from June 1 to Sep 30 is 624 mm.

Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre has forecast heavy rains in parts of north coastal Andhra and Telangana over next 24 hours under low pressure area from Orissa to south Tamil Nadu via coastal Andhra. Sporadic rains are likely in south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.