The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday declared the onset of the Southwest Monsoon over Kerala, signalling the beginning of the country's four-month rainy season. The arrival of the monsoon comes as a welcome relief after weeks of intense heatwave conditions across several parts of India. (Pics/ PTI)

Pre-monsoon showers swept across several parts of Mumbai on Wednesday, bringing relief from the lingering summer heat. The IMD issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and neighbouring districts, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, moderate rainfall and gusty winds as monsoon conditions build (Pics/ Atul Kamble)