Southwest monsoon may see a brief lull in already-deficient states

After becoming active over the rice-growing Indo-Gangetic plains, the southwest monsoon might witness weak phase for the next 3-4 days over the already rain-deficient region.

So far, the main deficit states are Uttar Pradesh (-42 per cent), Bihar (-36 per cent), Jharkhand (-48 per cent), and West Bengal

(-24 per cent).

According to private weather forecasting agency Skymet, rains in west UP, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, and Jharkhand are expected to be weak in the next 3-4 days before again picking pace. The IMD too, in its latest weather update, said that subdued rainfall is likely to continue over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and northeastern