The southwest monsoon has arrived eight days early in India. Check forecast here as IMD has issued red, orange and yellow alerts for districts in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

By Rajendra Jadhav MUMBAI (Reuters) -Monsoon rains hit the coast of India's southernmost state of Kerala on Saturday, eight days earlier than usual, marking the earliest arrival in 16 years and providing the promise of a bumper harvest and relief from a gruelling heatwave.

The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Saturday (May 24), marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2009 when it reached the southern state on May 23, the India Meteorological Department said.