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The southwest monsoon arrived over Kerala Sunday, three days ahead of its normal onset date of June 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

This is only the fourth occasion since 2010 when the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala took place before time (June 1). As per IMD records, the monsoon had arrived earlier than usual in 2010 (May 31), 2017 (May 30) and 2018 (May 29). The earliest onset over Kerala since 2005 was recorded in the year 2006, when the monsoon had arrived on May 26.

The declaration regarding the arrival of monsoon was made after the IMD was satisfied with all meteorological parameters including cloud cover over Arabian Sea and Kerala, rainfall over 14 stations in Kerala and the strengthening and depth of westerly winds, among others.

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 550 new coronavirus positive cases, 21 more than the previous day, which raised the overall tally to 78,85,944, while one death took the toll to 1,47,859, the state health department said. On Saturday, the state had recorded 529 cases, but no virus-related death. 

A total of 324 coronavirus patients were discharged on Sunday, which pushed the recovery count to 77,35,088, it said in a statement. 

There are 2,997 active COVID-19 cases in the state at present.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, who has got a clean chit in last year's drugs-on-cruise case, had told the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) that he started consuming 'ganja' during his graduation days in the US as he was having a sleeping disorder.

Further, in a statement, Aryan Khan admitted to his chat conversation with actress Ananya Pandey regarding weed procurement and said those messages were sent through the i-message feature of the iphone, the charge sheet claimed. Accordingly, a Further, in a statement, Aryan Khan admitted to his chat conversation with actress Ananya Pandey regarding weed procurement and said those messages were sent through the i-message feature of the iphone, the charge sheet claimed.

Former Congress leader Hardik Patel denied speculation that he will join the BJP on Monday, and took to Twitter to attack the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. "I am not joining BJP tomorrow...will let you know if something like this happens," Hardik Patel told PTI on Sunday.

Patel, who rose to prominence leading the Patidar quota stir, left the Congress recently.

Attacking the Bhagwant Mann government in the northern state, Patel tweeted, "Punjab has realised with a very sad incident today as to how deadly it is for any government to go into chaotic hands. Brutal murder of an international kabaddi player a few days ago, and a famous young artist Sidhu Moosawale today is raising important questions."

An Uttarakhand politician, Rajendra Bahuguna, climbed a water tank and shot himself on Wednesday, three days after his daughter-in-law filed a case accusing him of molesting his granddaughter.

Bahuguna, 59, reportedly dialed the police on the emergency number 112 from his home in Haldwani and told them about his suicide plan. He killed himself after the cops arrived, in front of horrified neighbours and witnesses.