India, June 23 -- The southwest monsoon finally arrived in Pune on Monday, nearly 12 days after its normal onset date, ending a prolonged wait for seasonal rains. However, the city did not receive any rainfall on the day of its official arrival and continued to experience dry conditions despite the declaration by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD announced the onset after favourable conditions enabled the monsoon's advance over Maharashtra. The declaration came a day after parts of Pune city and district received evening showers, offering temporary relief from the dry spell that has persisted since early June.

This year's monsoon has been marked by delays and interruptions. It reached Kerala on June 4, three days after ...