Meerut, Aug. 11 -- Heavy rain lashed parts of Western Uttar Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday, bringing relief from the heat but also triggering widespread waterlogging in Meerut and a sharp rise in water levels in seasonal rivers across Saharanpur's Ghaad region.

Rising river levels in Saharanpur flooded shops near the Maa Shakumbhari Devi Siddhapeeth, damaged a bridge and raised fears of floodwaters entering villages and residential areas.

In Meerut, the weather changed abruptly on Tuesday morning as dense clouds covered the city from early morning before intense rainfall began at around 8:30 a.m. Within a short period, rainwater accumulated on several major roads and connecting streets, disrupting traffic and making movement difficult fo...