Thaindian News

Lucknow, Sep 26 (IANS) As many as 36 people died and about 25 others were injured in heavy rains that lashed parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh Sunday, officials said Monday.

Most of the deaths were caused due to collapse of mud houses or trees falling on the roads.

Even though there was bright sunshine Monday, the after-affects of the rains continued to disrupt normal life in many places. Heavy water-logging in many residential localities, inundation of low-lying areas, and slush caused on account of overflowing drains caused severe problems to the people.

“About 100 ‘kutcha’ (makeshift) houses have collapsed due to the downpour in Varanasi, Jaunpur, Sonbhadra, Robertsganj, Azamgarh and Ghazipur where 17-hour long incessant rains that continued well past midnight, left everything paralysed,” said state Relief Commissioner K.K.Sinha here.

“A total of 36 people have died on account of the heavy downpour, while 25 were injured and hospitalized,” he said, adding none of the injured were critical.

According to Sinha, the highest rainfall was recorded in Varanasi, which received 300 mm rain in this span of time, and was followed by Mirzapur and Jaunpur.

“Not only did the roads remain water-logged, but even train services were disrupted as the tracks were inundated for hours, leading to cancellation of several trains.”

Rains also caused a deep breach on the Varanasi-Robertsganj highway, disrupting all vehicular movement on the route. Efforts were on to repair the damage and restore traffic.

The downpour also led to rise in the level of the Ganga in Varanasi and Mirzapur, while the Gomti river was swelling in Sultanpur and Jaunpur, where both were flowing close to the danger mark.

However, complete absence of rain on Monday had stabilized the river level now.

While special contingents of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to the badly affected areas to ensure proper relief to the affected population, the state government has announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs. 100,000 to the next of kin of those killed on account of the rain.

Arrangements are being made for spraying of disinfectants in all water-logged areas to prevent spread of diseases, besides equipping local government hospitals and dispensaries with the necessary medicines and other facilities, officials said.