Torrential monsoon rains kill 59 in northern India

LUCKNOW, India — A heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has flooded wide areas of northern India, killing dozens of people this past week, an official said Saturday.

Sandhaya Kureel, a spokeswoman of the Disaster Management and Relief Department, said most of the 59 fatalities were caused by house collapses, lightning and dr owning inUtt ar Pradesh state. They included at least five people dying of snake bites in flooded areas.

The temple city of Varanasi was lashed by 7 inches of rain on Thursday and Friday, flooding the bathing areas of the Ganges River used by thousands of Hindu pilgrims.

Schools were shut on Saturday as the downpour caused disruptions in the state capital, Lucknow, and several towns, including Amethi and Hardoi.