New Delhi, Oct. 8 -- The south-west monsoon is steadily pulling back from India, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) saying on Thursday that conditions are now favourable for its withdrawal from more parts of the country over the next three to four days.

The retreat follows a weak monsoon season, with cumulative rainfall 13% below the long-period average, amid developing El Niño conditions over the equatorial Pacific that are expected to intensify through year-end. India last recorded a below-normal monsoon in 2023, when rainfall was 95% of the long period average (LPA).

The monsoon current has further withdrawn from the remaining areas of Maharashtra, parts of Goa, Karnataka, Telangana and Odisha, along with additional ...