SOUTHWEST monsoon has advanced into the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said here, signalling the start of the four-month seasonal rains that are crucial to the largely agri-dependent economy.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands and adjoining areas have been experiencing rainfall due to strengthening south-westerly winds in the lower tropospheric levels, the weather office said.

Northern India got a slight breather on Monday with Dholpur in Rajasthan recording the highest maximum temperature of 46.1 degrees Celsius. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Banda in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday was 49 degrees Celsius.