13 die as rains bring walls down in UP, rivers in spate again

Thirteen people died as heavy rains over the past two days disrupted life in many parts of Uttar Pradesh with rivers swelling again, power cuts in many places, and cities witnessing their worst water-logging.

Nine people, including three children, died in the state capital when an underconstruction boundary wall of an army enclave collapsed after overnight rains. "Some labourers were living in huts outside the enclave in the Dilkusha area. Owing to heavy rain, the boundary wall of the enclave collapsed," Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Piyush Mordia told the Press Trust of India. "We reached the spot around 3am. Nine bodies were pulled out from the debris. One person was rescued alive," he said. All the labourers had come from Jhansi district.

Chief Minister Adityanath directed officials to provide financial assistance of Rs4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased. In Unnao district, four people, including two children, died as walls collapsed in two separate incidents in Kantha and Chandpur Jhalihai villages.

In Kantha, three siblings — Ankit (20), Ankush (4) and Unnati (6) — died when the wall of their house collapsed. According to villagers, the incident took place between 2am and 3am when the parents of the siblings had come out to assess the damage caused to their house by the rains.

In the second incident, 66year-old Bal Govind died.

President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and UP Governor Anandi Patel expressed grief over the loss of lives. Adityanath also directed officials across districts to monitor relief work and ensure that financial help is provided to the affected swiftly.

Barring paddy, most crops have been destroyed by incessant rain. Some of the rivers in eastern UP are nearing the danger mark again.