LUCKNOW, July 12 -- With rainfall activity declining across Uttar Pradesh since Saturday, the state's monsoon rain deficit has begun widening again. For the first time since the monsoon set in on June 30, the deficit increased by one percentage point to 17% on Sunday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD expects the monsoon current to weaken further over the next few days, which could widen the rainfall deficit and push up temperatures, a weatherman said on Sunday.

Between 8.30 am on Saturday and 8.30 am on Sunday, 40 of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts received no rainfall. The state recorded an average of 7.5 mm, with East UP receiving 11.7 mm and West UP just 1.4 mm.

Bansgaon in Gorakhpur recorded the highest ...