Heavy Rains Kill 18 Across India, Floods Displace Thousands In UP, Odisha, Bihar

Heavy rainfall across eastern and central India over the past 48 hours has killed at least 18 people, damaged crops and property, and triggered flooding in several states, forcing thousands of residents to move to safer locations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several affected regions as a weather system moved north-westwards.

Uttar Pradesh

At least 17 people were killed and five others injured as extremely heavy rain lashed several parts of Uttar Pradesh over the past 48 hours. As monsoon activity intensified during its retreat, 63 of the state’s 75 districts recorded above-normal rainfall, according to relief commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod.

The relief commissioner’s office said one death each was reported from Amethi, Bahraich, Banda, Barabanki, Basti, Fatehpur, Hamirpur, Hardoi and Kanpur Nagar. Two deaths were reported from Ayodhya and four from Lakhimpur Kheri.

One person died after a wall collapsed in Bahraich, while another death in Basti was attributed to a thunderstorm.

Uttar Pradesh recorded an average 52.5 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am on Saturday, while several weather stations recorded more than 200 mm. Lucknow’s Amausi area recorded 135.8 mm, while 201.2 mm was recorded at the Hanuman Setu observatory.

The intense rainfall damaged standing Kharif crops and raised concerns about delays in sowing the upcoming Rabi season, as waterlogged fields could take time to become suitable for cultivation.

Heavy rain also caused severe waterlogging on the Ganga Expressway near the Bashiratganj toll plaza in Unnao, disrupting traffic on the 594-km expressway. Unnao recorded 65 mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning.

The IMD has forecast heavy rain in Uttar Pradesh on September 27, following an extremely heavy rainfall warning for September 26.

Odisha

Heavy rain affected more than 73,000 people across 10 districts of Odisha over the past 48 hours, with more than 40,000 people evacuated to safer locations, officials said.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said southern Odisha was particularly affected, with Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati among the worst-hit districts.

According to the latest government assessment, 80 blocks, 325 gram panchayats, 1,071 villages and 49 wards in 10 urban local bodies were affected. As many as 721 houses were partially or fully damaged, while around 4,480 hectares of cropland were affected.

The IMD had issued a very heavy rainfall warning for Odisha on September 25 and a heavy rainfall warning for September 26.

Bihar

In Bihar, incessant rainfall in Nepal and its catchment areas, combined with continued water releases from the Valmikinagar barrage, forced more than 2,000 villagers to move to safer areas in West Champaran.

Water from the Gandak river entered several houses in the district on Saturday, according to Bagaha-2 circle officer Wasim Akram.

Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit directed officials in vulnerable riverine areas to remain on high alert amid the possibility of rising water levels in rivers originating in Nepal’s hilly regions.

The IMD had issued a heavy rainfall warning for Bihar on September 26.

Chhattisgarh

Heavy rain continued across parts of Chhattisgarh, causing flooding and waterlogging, disrupting road connectivity and prompting authorities to close schools in eight districts.

A 40-year-old farmer drowned in Kondagaon on Friday after falling into a swollen drain while attempting to catch fish from a waterlogged paddy field, officials said.

Authorities declared a holiday for government and private schools in Dantewada, Bijapur, Kondagaon, Kanker, Bastar, Gariaband, Dhamtari and Durg because of the weather conditions. Quarterly examinations in government schools in the affected areas were also postponed.

The spell of heavy rain was linked to a depression that moved north-northwestwards from south Chhattisgarh and adjoining southern Odisha towards central and northern India. The IMD said the system was expected to weaken as it moved towards southeast Uttar Pradesh.

With heavy rainfall continuing in parts of northern and eastern India, authorities in several states remain focused on flood management, evacuation and protecting crops and infrastructure.