The southwest monsoon has begun its retreat from western Rajasthan and Kutch, slightly later than usual. Despite this, the India Meteorological Department forecasts widespread rains in several regions over the coming week.

India's monsoon rains started retreating from the northwest of the country on Monday, nearly a week later than normal, the state-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.

The southwest monsoon generally kicks off in June and starts to retreat by September 17. However, the rains continued this year, which helped to replenish reservoirs but damaged the harvesting of some crops.

India had received a cumulative rainfall surplus of 5 per cent, with nearly all regions reporting above-average precipitation. But rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon has fallen short of the long period average (LPA) in eastern and northeastern states,