What began as a typical monsoon rain spell has now morphed into a full-blown weather emergency across the state of Uttar Pradesh. On Sunday evening, the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for multiple districts in the eastern part of the state, with an orange alert blanketing both East and West UP.
Uttar Pradesh On High Alert Amidst Heavy Rain
According to Hindustan Times, the rain is persistent, with forecasts warning of another 24 to 36 hours of intense, uninterrupted downpour. The monsoon trough, which normally lies further south, has drifted northward, now slicing across cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Ayodhya and Shamli. The cyclonic circulation over northeastern UP, close to the Bihar border, is further adding to the widespread deluge.
In Kanpur, the city woke to visuals of vehicles bobbing in the streets like makeshift boats. In Govind Nagar and Kidwai Nagar, water levels rose so quickly that local authorities rushed to deploy emergency pumps before sunrise. By morning, several stretches of the city were still submerged, and mobility had tanked.
In Lucknow, District Magistrate Visakh G Iyer ordered all schools, both government and private, shut for the day across Classes 1 to 12. Safety, he said, takes precedence. Further east, Ayodhya is watching the Saryu River flood. It has swollen well past its banks, eating into low-lying localities like Jalwanpura. There, residents trudged barefoot through silty brown water, clutching belongings above their heads.
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Most Affected Areas
Varanasi is in crisis mode. The Ganga breached its danger level of 71.26 metres on Sunday, and swallowed all 84 ghats in one cruel gulp. Over 32 villages and 24 urban localities were affected. At least 6,583 people have been evacuated. Prayagraj, too, is under distress. The Ganga is flowing above the red line here as well, and water has infiltrated vast parts of the city, cutting off access, killing power, and soaking entire neighbourhoods in a grim silence.
The human toll? At least 12 have been reported dead in 24 hours, not from one cause, but from many, such as lightning, flooding, snake bites and drowning. No district was spared: Kanpur Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Auraiya, Agra, Chitrakoot, Ballia, Banda, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and others are now officially flood-hit. That’s 17 districts in all, each with a different struggle but one shared crisis!
Rescue operations are in full swing. NDRF, SDRF, and PAC teams have been deployed across the worst-hit areas. They are pulling stranded families out of waist-high water, distributing dry rations, and trying to keep the panic from spiralling further, as stated by Hindustan Times.
As rivers continue to swell and rescue operations race against time, Uttar Pradesh stands at a critical juncture, grappling with the fury of rains that show no signs of retreat. With lives disrupted, infrastructure strained, and entire districts underwater, the coming hours will be crucial in determining how deep this crisis runs and how swiftly relief can reach those stranded at its heart.
Cover Image Courtesy: mavalvenk/X and strictlyasking/X
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