NEW DELHI, May 27 -- Even as northwest and central India reel under severe heatwave conditions, the southwest monsoon is steadily advancing, raising hopes of relief in the coming days.

The southwest monsoon has advanced into more parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep region, parts of the Bay of Bengal and the remaining areas of the Andaman Sea as of Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather office said conditions remain favourable for the monsoon to spread further over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal over the next two to three days.

"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep a...