Monsoon likely to withdraw in 2-3 days from eastern India

The south-west monsoon is likely to withdraw from most parts of eastern India during the next two to three days, the Met department said here on Saturday.

The south-west monsoon has already withdrawn from some parts of West Bengal.

This year's withdrawal of monsoon, which has been delayed in the northern parts of the country, is near normal in West Bengal with a delay of only a couple of days, Regional Met director G K Das said.

"Withdrawal of monsoon in south Bengal occurs on October 10 normally, this year it will be on around October 13," Das said.

Rainfall in West Bengal has been on the lower side of normal, he said, adding that a 19 per cent increase or decrease from the average is considered normal.

"In south Bengal, the rainfall was 20 per cent less than average, while in Kolkata it was 10 per cent below it," Das told PTI.

In north Bengal, rainfall this season from June 1 to September 30 was 7 per cent below average, he said.

"Conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal of south-west monsoon from most parts of East India during next 2 to 3 days," Das said.

Monsoon now passes through Kishanganj in Bihar, Bankura in West Bengal and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, he said.

The Met department has predicted mainly dry weather in most parts of West Bengal during the next five days, with minimum temperatures likely to dip by one or two degrees Celsius.