India, June 4 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday officially announced the onset of the Southwest Monsoon over Keralam, marking the commencement of the four-month rainfall season, offering respite from a gruelling heatwave.

While the normal date for the monsoon's arrival is June 1, this year the onset was recorded on June 4, a delay of three days.

The monsoon has successfully covered the entire Lakshadweep islands, Keralam, and Mahe. It has also advanced into the remaining parts of the Southwest and Southeast Arabian Sea.

Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of the central Arabian Sea, entire Goa, some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, some more parts of Kar...