Chandigarh, Sept. 21 -- The southwest monsoon has begun its withdrawal from parts of Haryana and Punjab, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting largely dry weather across the two states and Chandigarh for the next five days before the possibility of isolated rainfall returns towards the weekend.

In its weather bulletin issued on Monday at 12.30 pm, the IMD's Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh said the southwest monsoon has further withdrawn from some parts of Rajasthan and from parts of Haryana and Punjab on September 21. The withdrawal line now passes through Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Sikar, Rohtak, Patiala and Gurdaspur, extending further northwest.

Conditions are also favourable for the monsoon to withdraw from the remain...