Lucknow: Ten people lost their lives and 17 others were injured in rain-related mishaps across Uttar Pradesh on Saturday as 63 districts recorded above-normal rainfall, with some areas under moderate flash-flood risk, officials said.
The state received 19 times its normal rainfall in the past 24 hours, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds damaging standing crops and 117 houses, they said.
Five people were killed in separate incidents of mud-wall collapse, while five others died and 14 were injured after trees were uprooted by strong winds and heavy rain, police said. Casualties were reported from Lakhimpur Kheri, Amethi, Barabanki and Gorakhpur districts.
In Lucknow, three members of a family were injured after the wall of a mud house collapsed in Chaina village. They were rescued and provided medical treatment.
In Kannauj, 20 kutcha houses were damaged due to incessant rain, Additional District Magistrate Devendra Singh said, adding that no deaths had been reported in the district.
In Gorakhpur, four people were killed and 14 injured in incidents involving uprooted trees, officials said.
In Gajarhiya Tola of Lakshmipur II village in Campierganj, an old sal tree fell on a hut around 4 pm, killing Subhash (55), Gyanmati Devi (45) and Kishan Prajapati (13). Two others, Rammilan and Sirjavati, sustained serious injuries.
IMD Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across several parts of the state, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall possible in the central Terai region. Some watersheds in central and Terai Uttar Pradesh faced a light to moderate risk of flash floods over the next 24 hours, as reported by The New Indian Express.
District administrations across the state have been put on high alert, with officials told to keep a close watch on flood-prone and vulnerable spots. Authorities have shut schools in all districts under red alert and those where flash floods are possible.
A depression over northeast Madhya Pradesh and nearby north Chhattisgarh was moving slowly toward southeast Uttar Pradesh. By 5.30 am on Saturday, it was located about 230 km south of Prayagraj.
Vigilance Ordered; Schools Closed
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed district magistrates in affected areas to remain vigilant and visit vulnerable locations. Relief and rescue agencies have been asked to remain prepared, while officials have been instructed to shift vulnerable families to safer locations wherever necessary.
Schools have been ordered to remain closed in districts under red alert and facing the possibility of flash floods.
Districts identified as vulnerable to sudden flooding include Azamgarh, Ballia, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Basti, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Gonda, Hardoi, Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Amethi, Kaushambi and Chitrakoot.
With heavy rains also lashing Nepal, authorities have put border districts on high alert as river levels could rise and cause flooding.
Fire services, the Provincial Armed Constabulary, civil defence teams, home guards and Aapda Mitras have been kept on standby for any rescue work.
The Relief Commissioner said the weather should improve within about 36 hours and asked anyone needing emergency help to call the relief helpline 1070.
Akhilesh’s Swipe
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav uploaded a video on X showing heavy waterlogging on the Ganga Expressway and sarcastically proposed renaming it the “Ganga Express Waterway”.
“Rivers of BJP corruption are flowing on the Ganga Expressway. A golden opportunity for those who change names, give it a new name: Ganga Express Waterway. Utterly condemnable!” he wrote.