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 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.

The southwest monsoon made an early arrival in Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of schedule, marking the earliest onset since 2009. This swift advancement, driven by favourable atmospheric conditions,