Southwest monsoon starts withdrawing after delay of over one month

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains started withdrawing from the northwest region from Wednesday, marking the most delayed retreat of the seasonal rainfall, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

The monsoon generally begins in June and starts to retreat by Sept. 1, but rains have continued beyond that date this year and triggered floods that have killed hundreds.

The previous record for the most delayed monsoon withdrawal was set in 1961, when the seasonal rainfall started retreating on Oct. 1, the weather office said.