India, June 5 -- After days of widespread pre-monsoon rain and thunderstorm activity, the southwest monsoon has officially entered Karnataka, bringing relief to several parts of the state.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday declared the onset of the monsoon over the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka.

According to an IMD press release issued on June 5, the southwest monsoon is expected to advance into more parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, over the next two to three days. If the current weather conditions persist, the monsoon is likely to reach Karnataka's capital between June 7 and June 9.

"The region has recorded continuous rainfall of over 2-3mm in recent days, with wind speeds of ...