Heavy Rains Disrupt Normal Life Across Multiple States with Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Facing Severe Impact

Heavy Downpours

Heavy rainfall lashed large parts of India on Saturday, causing waterlogging, transport disruptions, and damage across several states. A weather system moving from central India toward Uttar Pradesh brought intense weather activity, while Delhi experienced a drop in temperatures following light rain and thunderstorms.

Uttar Pradesh Impact

Uttar Pradesh emerged as one of the worst-hit regions, with 63 districts registering above-normal rainfall. The state received 19 times its normal rainfall over a 24-hour period. Ten people died and 17 others sustained injuries in rain-related incidents. The downpower damaged 117 houses and ruined standing crops. Lucknow received 125.8 mm of rain, while Banda recorded 227.6 mm, Fatehgarh 224 mm, Nanpara 217 mm, and Hardoi 214 mm. A depression over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north Chhattisgarh triggered these conditions, with the India Meteorological Department warning of flash flood risks in central and Terai watersheds.

Mountain Regions

In Uttarakhand, authorities suspended the Char Dham Yatra until September 27 and shut schools across five districts under red and orange weather alerts. Himachal Pradesh witnessed the season's first snowfall in the higher areas of Kinnaur, alongside light rain in Shimla and Dharamshala, prompting an orange alert for Sirmaur and yellow alerts for several other districts.

East and Central Disruptions

Jharkhand faced heavy inundation as rivers crossed danger marks. The Subernarekha river flowed 2.02 metres above the danger level in East Singhbhum, and the Kharkai river surged 4.50 metres above its danger mark, leading to school closures and the cancellation of six flights at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport. Chhattisgarh also experienced rail disruptions due to waterlogging and track subsidence in the Durg-Dallirajhara section, while West Bengal braced for easing conditions in the south even as north Bengal districts remained under a yellow alert.