44 killed in rain-related incidents in UP
LUCKNOW:AT least 44 people were killed in rain related incidents, including flooding, roof and wall collapse and lightning strikes across Uttar Pradesh since Thursday morning, a state government official said on Friday.
Six deaths each were reported in Pratapgarh and Raebareli, five in Amethi, four each in Chandauli and Varanasi, three each in Prayagraj, Barabanki and Mahoba, two in Ambedkar Nagar, and one each in Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Sonebhadra, Ayodhya, Saharanpur, Jaunpur, Kaushambi and Azamgarh, official said requesting anonymity.
Majority of the deaths were caused by wall and roof collapse. Lightning and instances of trees falling were among the other causes of death.
The meteorological department warned of heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours in Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Mau, Deoria, Gorakhpur and Ambedkar Nagar districts.
The state government has also issued an alert in this connection. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed the district magistrates to launch relief and rescue operations immediately in the affected areas. He also directed the DMS to provide relief of ~4 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed and provide medical treatment to the injured on a priority basis.
Normal life was affected because of waterlogging in central UP, East UP and Bundelkhand region.
Chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari said the district magistrates had been directed to keep their control room functional round the clock, maintain vigil on river embankments, repair the damaged portions and activate flood posts to shift people to a safe spot.