Heavy late-September rain has sharply narrowed India’s monsoon shortfall, with the seasonal deficit improving from 15 per cent to 12 per cent in a week, the weather office said.

The India Meteorological Department said September rainfall so far stands 5 per cent below normal at 152.6 mm. From June 1 to September 28, the country received 750.3 mm against the normal 852.9 mm, leaving a 12 per cent deficit.

September 26 delivered the monsoon’s biggest single-day downpour at 162 per cent above normal. Four subdivisions, including west Uttar Pradesh at 3,003 per cent above normal, recorded more than 1,500 per cent surplus rain that day.

The late surge, driven by Bay of Bengal low-pressure systems and a western disturbance, has helped kharif crops in central and northern India. However, 56 people were killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh between September 25 and 27. The monsoon season officially ended on September 30.