Ten Dead, 17 Hurt as UP Sees 19 Times Normal Rain; 117 Houses Damaged

Ten people were killed and 17 injured in rain-related incidents across Uttar Pradesh, officials said, as the state recorded 19 times its normal rainfall over 24 hours and 63 districts logged above-normal precipitation.

Five of the deaths came in separate mud-wall collapses, while five others died and 14 were injured when strong winds and heavy rain uprooted trees. Casualties were reported from Lakhimpur Kheri, Amethi, Barabanki and Gorakhpur.

In Lucknow, three members of a family were injured when the wall of a mud house collapsed in Chaina village. They were rescued and given medical treatment. In Kannauj, 20 kutcha houses were damaged by unrelenting rain, though no deaths were reported there, Additional District Magistrate Devendra Singh said.

Gorakhpur accounted for four deaths and 14 injuries in tree-fall incidents. In Gajarhiya Tola of Lakshmipur II village in Campierganj, an old sal tree crashed onto a hut around 4 pm, killing Subhash (55), Gyanmati Devi (45) and Kishan Prajapati (13), while Rammilan and Sirjavati were seriously hurt. Several villagers had taken shelter in the hut when the tree came down; residents cleared the debris and pulled out the injured before the SDM and police supervised relief work.

In the Gagaha area, a mahua tree fell on Bhim Kumar Vishwakarma near Siyar Mod, killing him on the spot. In Jatepur Dakshini, an roughly 80-year-old pakad tree collapsed on a house in Kali Mandir Gali, injuring four people — Suresh, Subhash, Munni and Chunni — out of about 12 inside. The tree also brought down electricity poles, disrupting supply, which was disconnected before rescue operations began. District Magistrate Deepak Meena and Senior Superintendent of Police Kaustubh visited the district hospital to check on the injured.

Weather data showed Lucknow received 125.8 mm of rain in the 21 hours ending Saturday morning. Farrukhabad recorded 200 times its normal rainfall, Kanpur Nagar 160 times, and Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat and Hardoi 130 times their normal. Banda logged 227.6 mm, Fatehgarh 224 mm, Nanpara in Bahraich 217 mm, Hardoi 214 mm, Kayamganj in Farrukhabad 210 mm, Hamirpur 210 mm and Kannauj 204 mm in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Saturday. Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur, Lucknow and Barabanki were among other districts hit by heavy to very heavy rain.

A depression over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north Chhattisgarh was moving north-northwestwards towards southeast Uttar Pradesh. At 5.30 am on Saturday it lay about 230 km south of Prayagraj, and was expected to hold as a depression until Saturday evening before weakening into a well-marked low-pressure area within 12 hours. The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy to very heavy rain in eastern Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, with isolated extremely heavy falls possible in the central Terai region, and rain and thundershowers at several places on Sunday. Some watersheds in central and Terai Uttar Pradesh faced a light to moderate flash-flood risk over the next 24 hours.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms over the past 48 hours damaged 117 houses, government sources said, while standing crops were also hit. Waterlogging disrupted traffic and troubled residents of low-lying localities as rain continued through the night. In Ayodhya, rain and strong winds affected movement around Ram Path, the Ram temple, Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan and the Saryu area. Farmers in rural pockets reported crop damage.

The state government has put district administrations on alert. Districts flagged as vulnerable to sudden flooding include Azamgarh, Ballia, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Basti, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Gonda, Hardoi, Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Amethi, Kaushambi and Chitrakoot. Schools will remain closed in districts under red alert or facing possible flash floods. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed district magistrates in affected areas to stay vigilant and visit vulnerable locations, with relief and rescue agencies told to remain ready. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorms and lightning and to stay away from open areas, trees and water bodies.

District magistrates have been asked to assess damage to houses and crops, and field officials to monitor waterlogged areas and move vulnerable families to safer ground. With heavy rain in Nepal, special vigilance has been ordered in districts bordering the country, especially in eastern Uttar Pradesh, amid the possibility of rising river levels. Fire services, the Provincial Armed Constabulary, civil defence personnel, home guards and Aapda Mitras have been asked to remain available for rescue operations. The Relief Commissioner said conditions were expected to normalise after about 36 hours and urged those needing emergency help to call the relief helpline 1070.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted a video on X showing waterlogging on the Ganga Expressway and suggested it be renamed the "Ganga Express Waterway", alleging corruption and calling the situation condemnable.