Hyderabad, Aug 18 - With the southwest monsoon triggering heavy rains in parts of Andhra Pradesh and reviving hopes of the farmers, the Congress government is reluctant to declare the state drought hit.

Minister for Revenue and Relief D. Prasad Rao told the assembly Tuesday that though the government had not officially declared the state drought hit, it was taking all steps to help people in the areas which recorded deficit or scanty rainfall.

Expressing his happiness over the revival of southwest monsoon in parts of the state during last three days, the minister hoped that more rains in the coming days would improve the agriculture scenario.

The heavy rains under the impact of low pressure trough over the southwest Bay of Bengal came as much needed relief to the state, facing the spectre of the worst drought in 50 years.

For most parts of the state this was the first heavy rain of the season. There were hardly any rains in a majority of districts though monsoon set in early June.

The Congress government, which is facing the threat of first drought in its six years, was worried as the failure of monsoon triggered suicides by farmers. About 20 farmers have committed suicides during last one and half months, though the government has denied that they are linked to drought.