Incessant rains claim 120 lives in UP, 15 in HP

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI)Flood threat haunted Uttar Pradesh as the toll in rainfall triggered incidents climbed to 120 after 10 people died in the capital Lucknow while at least nine people were killed in a building collapse in Himachal Pradesh.

Widespread rain lashed many northwestern parts of the country during the past 24 hours.

In Uttar Pradesh, three people died and two severely injured when their house collapsed in Kathwara village.

Malti (3) in Bahadurpur village and Mangla Devi (50) in Kakori police station area died in house collapse incidents.

Further during the past 48 hours, lightning struck Ram Naval Gupta in Alambagh police station area, while two people were electrocuted in Damodar nagar.

House collapse incident also claimed two lives in Jaukhandi village and Malihabad area. Five people, including two children were hurt in Patanala area.

In Himachal Pradesh at least nine labourers were buried alive and seven others injured seriously when a two-storey building under construction crashed at Baga village in Solan district of the state late last night following rains. The building collapsed after its retaining wall gave way, a report from Shimla, quoting police, said.

With these deaths, the toll in rain-related incidents rose to 15 in the region so far. Four people have died in Haryana and two in Punjab during the current monsoon season.

In UP Sharda in Paliakalan was flowing 13 cm above the danger mark and Ghagra (Algin Bridge) was flowing 17 cm above the red mark.

Central Water Commission (CWC) said all major rivers, including Ganga, Yamuna, Ken, Gomti, Rapti and Gandak were rising along their course.

Monsoon in Punjab remained vigorous and active in Himachal Pradesh during the past 24 hours.

Several areas in Haryana also experienced moderate rain and monsoon remained active in Himachal Pradesh with rains lashing many areas in the state since last night, triggering fresh landslides especially in interior areas.

Moderate rain lashed Shimla and tourist resorts of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda. The rains triggered fresh landslides in upper areas of Shimla district and Kullu district and a dense fog enveloped the capital town which reduced visibility considerably.

Monsoon rains also pounded parts of Jammu and Kashmir while Chandigarh and its adjoining areas had trace rainfall and the Sun played hide and seek with monsoon clouds hovering in the skies during the day.

In the capital, after four days of rains, which witnessed the heaviest monsoon showers in a single day on Wednesday, it was a rainless day here.

In Rajasthan with the revival of monsoon , the traditional Teej procession was taken out in the Pink City amid light drizzle and pleasant weather.

Met sources in Orissa said a well marked low pressure over the North Bay of Bengal will cause heavy rains in many parts here during the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperature of Bhubaneswar was recorded at 28.1 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature at 25.4 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh the Southwest monsoon revived with downpours lashing several parts overnight.

Intermittent rains lashed the state capital and Indore since last night.

But for Kolkatans, light showers after a spell of dry weather brought the much neede relief.

The South West Monsoon was also active in Kerala with rainfall lashing most places in the state and at isolated places in Lakshwadeep.

UNI Team KD RP RS2002