UP: 34 Dead In 24 Hours Due To Lightning Strikes, Drowning Amid Heavy Rainfall

Of the 34 people, 17 died due to lightning, 12 died by drowning while five were killed due to excessive rains.

Excessive rains batter several districts of Uttar Pradesh

Source : PTI File Photo

At least 34 people died in various districts of Uttar Pradesh due to rainfall related incidents in the last 24 hours. Like other north Indian states, Uttar Pradesh too has been witnessing excessive rainfall causing a rise in river water levels, hitting traffic movement in cities, and inundating farms in rural pockets. Of the 34 people, 17 died due to lightning, 12 died by drowning while five were killed due to excessive rains. Five people died by drowning in Raibareilly while 4 died in Bareilly followed by Santkabirnagar and Badaun with two casualties each. 

Four people died in Mainpuri due to lightning, followed by Ghazipur (2), Jalaun (2), Kanpur Dehat (2), Kannauj (2), Ballia (1), Bagpat (1), Etawah (1), Unnao (1), Agra (1). 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to give assistance to the dependents of the deceased people. He also instructed to give monetary assistance of Rupees 4 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. 

Of the75 districts in the state, rainfall was witnessed in around 68 districts, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, reported PTI on Sunday. During the past 24 hours till 12 pm on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh recorded an average rainfall of 1.3 cm — 56 per cent higher than normal and categorised as "excess" rainfall — the weather data showed, as per the report. 

Districts in western Uttar Pradesh, adjoining Delhi and Uttarakhand, particularly Meerut zone, received more rainfall than those in the central and eastern parts of the state. The rains were followed by cloudy skies.

The water level in the rivers flowing through the state —Ganga, Ramganga, Yamuna and Rapti — increased owing to the heavy rainfall in the state, said the IMD. 

heavy rains during the afternoon led to waterlogging in several parts of capital city Lucknow, causing traffic snarls for commuters.

ALSO READ: Delhi: Yamuna Water Level Nears Danger Mark, CM Kejriwal Calls Meeting