India, Sept. 26 -- Deoria in eastern Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the driest district in the country this monsoon, with rainfall 87 per cent below normal levels, according to official data.

The Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh has been receiving steadily less rain over the past few years, but this year Deoria saw historically low levels. By September 25, 2025 the district had received only 97.2 millimetres (mm) of rain compared with the seasonal average of 759.4 mm.

Over the 16 weeks of the monsoon season this year, Deoria experienced a large rainfall deficit every single week. In the first eight, the deficit was between 90 per cent and 100 per cent, while in the remaining it stood at 80-90 per cent.

Mandhata Singh, chief scientist a...