Mussoorie, Sept. 26 -- The southwest monsoon has begun its retreat from Uttarakhand, starting with Haridwar in the plains, during the past 24 hours ending Thursday morning. The withdrawal is expected to cover the rest of the state in the next two to three days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Dehradun. Between September 17 and 24, the state recorded an average rainfall of 23.3 mm against the normal 34 mm, registering a 34% deficit. "The line of withdrawal of the southwest monsoon currently passes through Haridwar ," said CS Tomar, Director, IMD Dehradun....