At least 18 people have died in the past 48 hours as heavy rains triggered floods, waterlogging and widespread disruption across several states in eastern and central India. Uttar Pradesh has reported the highest number of deaths, while Odisha, Bihar and Chhattisgarh have also faced severe weather conditions.
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 17 people were killed and five others injured after intense rainfall lashed several parts of the state. According to the relief commissioner’s office, deaths were reported across districts including Amethi, Bahraich, Banda, Barabanki, Basti, Fatehpur, Hamirpur, Hardoi, Kanpur Nagar, Ayodhya and Lakhimpur Kheri.
The state recorded an average rainfall of 52.5 mm in the 24 hours up to 8.30 am on Saturday. Several weather stations recorded more than 200 mm of rain. Officials said 63 of Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts received above-normal rainfall, with the state recording around 19 times its normal rainfall during the previous 24 hours.
The heavy rain has also damaged standing Kharif crops, raising concerns among farmers about losses and delays in sowing the upcoming Rabi crop. Waterlogging has affected several areas, including the Ganga Expressway near the Bashiratganj toll plaza in Unnao, disrupting traffic.
Odisha has also witnessed significant flooding. More than 73,000 people across 10 districts have been affected, while over 40,000 people were evacuated to safer locations. Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Ganjam and Gajapati were among the worst-affected districts.
Government officials said 80 blocks, 325 gram panchayats, 1,071 villages and 49 urban wards were affected. Around 721 houses were partially or completely damaged, while nearly 4,480 hectares of cropland were affected by the rainfall.
In Bihar, rising water levels in the Gandak river forced more than 2,000 villagers in West Champaran to move to safer locations. Authorities have remained on high alert as continued rainfall in Nepal and water releases from the Valmikinagar barrage could increase river levels.
Chhattisgarh has also reported flooding and waterlogging. Road connectivity has been disrupted in several areas, while schools were closed in eight districts because of the weather. A farmer died in Kondagaon after drowning in a swollen drain.
Authorities across the affected states are closely monitoring the situation and carrying out evacuations and relief measures as heavy rainfall continues in several regions.
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