Eight perish in rain-related incidents in UP

Lucknow: Eight people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh as major rivers, including Ganga and Yamuna, continued to flow above the danger mark with south-west monsoon remaining normal over the state.

Reports reaching here said that five people in Kaushambi, two in Allahabad and one in Sitapur died in incidents of lightning and house collapse. Central Water Commission sources said that Ganga crossed the danger mark at Phaphamau in Allahabad even as it was flowing above the red level at Ballia and Gazipur. It was flowing close to the danger mark at other places all along the course from Fatehgarh to Varanasi.’ Yamuna was flowing above the danger mark at Hamirpur and Chilla Ghat (Banda) besides crossing the red mark at Naini in Allahabad. Rivers Sharda at Palia Kalan and Ghaghra at Elgin Bridge and Turtipar were flowing above the danger level while Ram Ganga at Moradabad and Dabri (Shahjahapur), Betwa at Sahijana (Hamirpur) and Rapti at Balrampur, Bansi, Regoli and Gorakhpur were flowing close to the red mark. Budhi Rapti was also flowing near the danger level at Kakarhi (Siddharnagar), they said. Met office said moderate to rather heavy rain and thundershowers occurred at few places over the state with heavy rain occurring at isolated places. Chief amount of rainfall recorded in cms are: Thakurdwara-18; Ankinghat-8; Bahraich-7; Chhatnag-6; Kaimganj, Allahabad, Fursatganj, Bara, Baheri-4 each; Shahabad, Fatehpur, Nagina, Badaun-3 each. The Met officials forecast that rain and thundershowers would occur at many places over the state. PTI