LUCKNOW, Sept. 27 -- At least 17 people were killed and five others were injured as extremely heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Uttar Pradesh while monsoon activity intensified across the state on its retreat. Sixty-three of the state's 75 districts recorded above-normal rainfall with the state receiving 19 times the normal showers in the past 24 hours, according to relief commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod. The downpour and strong winds damaged standing crops in rural areas.

Lucknow (Amausi) recorded 135.8 mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Saturday, while one observatory at Hanuman Setu recorded 201.2 mm of rainfall, marking one of the heaviest spells of the season in the state capital. The intense spell lashing Uttar ...