Patna, June 22 (IANS): The much-awaited monsoon entered Bihar on Monday with rain lashing several parts of the state and bringing much-needed relief to people, particularly farmers, a weather official said.

"Monsoon has arrived in the eastern parts of Bihar including Bhagalpur, Banka, Katihar, Purnea and Madhepura districts, and pre-monsoon showers lashed Patna and adjoining districts," Met department official A.K. Sen said.

"The showers brought relief from the scorching heat to millions of people in Patna, Aurangabad and Jehanabad districts," he said.

"The intense heat conditions in Bihar are over," the official said.

He said the entire state was expected to receive rain in the next couple of days.

The state government, meanwhile, has asked officials to prepare a contingency plan keeping in mind the delayed monsoon and deficient rain predicted in Bihar.

The monsoon usually hits Bihar between June 11 and 13. But this year, it was delayed by nearly 10 days. Scorching heat since May had created havoc and affected normal life of the people.