India, Oct. 11 -- Five days after its normal date of withdrawal from Maharashtra (October 5), the southwest monsoon began retreating from the state on Friday, October 10.

After starting its retreat from Rajasthan three days before the normal date, the withdrawal process was stalled for 15 days from September 24 to October 9 mainly due to the formation of cyclone Shakti in the Arabian Sea and another low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal. The withdrawal process resumed on October 9 wherein the monsoon retreated from a few more areas in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. On October 10 however, the withdrawal gained momentum with the monsoon retreating from the remaining parts of Gujarat; several areas of Maharashtra including north Konkan, Mum...