India, Oct. 4 -- The southwest monsoon began withdrawing from Maharashtra on October 3, with the withdrawal line reaching Pune, marking the city's earliest monsoon retreat since 2014. The withdrawal comes without a significant final spell of rainfall, leaving the state with a 17% rainfall deficit at the end of the four-month monsoon season.

The southwest monsoon began withdrawing from India on September 19 and reached Gujarat on September 23, after which the process remained largely stalled until October 2. Withdrawal resumed on October 3, advancing significantly across central India.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon withdrew from the remaining parts of north India, the whole of Gujarat and Madhya Prad...