Mysuru, May 26 -- For the first time in over one-and-a-half decades, the South-West Monsoon officially entered Karnataka on Saturday (May 24) - nearly 10 days ahead of its usual onset in the first week of June.

Dr. G.V. Sumanth Kumar, Technical Officer at the Agro-Meteorological Field Unit (AMFU) of the Organic Farming Research Station, Naganahalli (OFRSN), Mysuru, confirmed that the monsoon entered both Kerala and Karnataka simultaneously - a rare occurrence.

"Due to favourable wind conditions, the monsoon has entered Kerala and Karnataka on the same day. Normally, it takes about three days for the monsoon to move from Kerala into Karnataka," he explained.

This marks the first time in 16 years that Karnataka has seen an early onset of...