Lucknow, Sept. 27 -- Fifty-six people have died and 46 others were injured in rain- and storm-related incidents across Uttar Pradesh since September 25, with intense rainfall leaving several districts waterlogged, damaging 1,021 houses and killing 107 animals, officials said on Sunday. Rescue teams were deployed in inundated areas to evacuate stranded residents as rivers in parts of the state continued to rise, raising concerns over flooding in low-lying areas.
Relief Commissioner Dr Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said the state received 66.5 mm of rain between September 25 and the morning of September 27, compared with the normal 7.6 mm for the period. This was 775 per cent above normal. Of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts, 56 recorded excessive rainfall.
Sitapur reported the highest number of deaths at seven, followed by Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Balrampur with five each. Ayodhya and Gorakhpur recorded four deaths each. Hardoi had the highest number of injured people at seven, while Mainpuri, Shravasti and Barabanki reported five each.
The rainfall also caused extensive damage to livestock and homes. Hardoi recorded 28 animal deaths, followed by Sitapur with 16 and Kannauj with 14. Bahraich and Kanpur Dehat reported seven each, while Unnao recorded six. Hardoi had the largest number of damaged houses at 272, followed by Sitapur with 108, Chandauli with 75 and Auraiya with 60.
Rainfall totals were far above normal in several districts. Farrukhabad recorded 7,385 per cent more rain than normal, followed by Kannauj at 5,664 per cent, Shahjahanpur at 4,408 per cent, Hamirpur at 4,240 per cent and Mahoba at 4,100 per cent.
The Central Water Commission said the Ghagra and Rapti rivers were rising at several monitoring stations. At Elginbridge in Barabanki, the Ghagra stood at 106.14 metres at 8 am, above its danger mark of 106.07 metres, and was expected to rise further to 106.55 metres by Sunday night. In Ayodhya, the river was at 92.39 metres against a warning level of 91.73 metres, with a projected rise to 92.85 metres.
The Rapti was also above its warning level at Balrampur, where the water stood at 104 metres against 103.62 metres and was expected to rise further.
The weather system responsible for the prolonged spell weakened from a depression into a well-marked low-pressure area early Sunday, according to the India Meteorological Department. The system was moving north-northwestwards across Uttar Pradesh and was expected to weaken further. The state received 45.1 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending Sunday, against a normal 1.8 mm.
Heavy rain and winds of 30-40 kmph affected Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and other areas. Roads and villages were inundated, while trees and electric poles were uprooted. A roughly 200-metre stretch of the Kanpur-Etawah highway was also reported damaged.
In Lucknow, a portion of the road near Ekana Stadium reportedly caved in, while several intersections were waterlogged. Agricultural fields in Bakshi Ka Talab were submerged and crops were flattened.
The Ganga Expressway remained operational despite water accumulation at the Sonik toll plaza in Unnao. Project manager R S Mishra said traffic movement was normal, with waterlogging reported only at one ramp where drainage was partly affected by the relatively low height of a nearby high-tension power line.
Yashod reviewed rescue and relief operations with district officials and directed them to remain in the field, maintain contact with affected residents and provide immediate assistance. Officials were also asked to assess crop losses, provide compensation under government rules and arrange alternative accommodation and housing benefits for eligible families whose homes were damaged.
Authorities urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel through waterlogged or flood-affected areas and keep away from fast-flowing rivers, streams and drains. The relief department's emergency helpline is 1070.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.