India’s southwest monsoon has begun its withdrawal, with the retreat starting from Rajasthan on September 19, about two days later than the normal date of September 17.

The withdrawal line is currently anchored along Gurdaspur, Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh, Dholpur, Udaipur, Deesa and Naliya. The India Meteorological Department says the monsoon will withdraw from more parts of northwest, central and eastern India in the first week of October, with complete withdrawal expected only after October 1.

This season has been marked by sharp regional contrasts. As many as 327 of India’s 792 districts received deficient rainfall, while other regions saw excess rain and flooding. Paddy acreage is down 3.7 per cent, reflecting the uneven spread.

For the months ahead, the IMD expects above-normal rainfall over the southern peninsula during October to December, likely exceeding 112 per cent of the long-period average, as the northeast monsoon sets in around mid-October.

The withdrawal phase is crucial for the kharif harvest and the sowing of rabi crops, and farmers are watching the retreat closely for its impact on soil moisture and reservoir levels.