Floods in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, 398% excess rainfall in 24 hours

The monsoon season has brought havoc to many parts of India, especially in eastern Uttar Pradesh, where heavy rains have caused severe floods and landslides. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), some districts of the state have received 398% excess rainfall in 24 hours, leading to overflowing of rivers and dams.

The worst-hit districts are Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Basti, Gonda, Sultanpur, Shrawasti, Lucknow, Raebareli and Fatehpur. The floods have affected more than 1,200 villages, and they have displaced over 56,000 people. The state government has deployed 59 rescue teams to evacuate the stranded people and provide relief materials.

The floods have also claimed 21 lives in the past 24 hours, as per the state disaster management authority. Most of the deaths occurred due to drowning, electrocution, wall collapse and snake bites. The authorities have warned of more heavy rains in the next few days and advised people to stay alert and avoid low-lying areas.

The floods have also disrupted the normal life and infrastructure in the state. The floodwaters have damaged or submerged many roads, bridges, railway tracks, and power lines. Waterlogging on the tracks has resulted in the cancellation or diversion of several trains. As a precautionary measure, the authorities have closed schools and colleges till September 15.

Heavy rain disrupts life in Uttar Pradesh

The MET department has indicated that heavy rains will be expected in the eastern region of the state until September 14, with lighter rains continuing until September 17. The western region is also likely to experience rain and showers until September 17, but there's a lightning alert in effect until September 15.

In Barabanki, heavy rains caused water to cover the railway tracks, affecting train movement. Authorities briefly halted trains, but later allowed them to pass at a slow pace. Authorities have closed schools in the state capital, Lucknow.

Lucknow's District Magistrate, Surya Pal Gangwar, has issued an advisory urging people to avoid unnecessary travel due to the risk of severe lightning. District-level officers in Lucknow are actively addressing issues caused by the rain, including waterlogging. In the past 24 hours until 8 am on Monday, the area received 99.9 mm of rainfall.

Municipal Corporation teams are working in urban areas, while sub-divisional magistrate-led teams are tackling problems in rural areas. They are also inspecting cow shelters to ensure their safety. Senior officials are on-site to manage traffic diversion in Gomti Nagar, where a major road partially collapsed due to heavy rains, allowing for smoother traffic flow.

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