NEW DELHI: Heavy rain and storms triggered floods and landslides in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, killing 56 people and injuring 46 over the past three days, a government disaster agency said on Sunday.
More than 1,000 houses were damaged as several districts faced severe waterlogging following an intense spell of rainfall.
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with more than 240 million people, recorded 66.5 millimetres of rain between September 25 and the morning of September 27, compared with a normal 7.6 mm for the period, Relief Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said.
#WATCH | Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh: Continuous rainfall in Nepal causes the water level of the Narayani River to rise; floodwaters reach the low-lying areas of Kushinagar district. pic.twitter.com/PEvhBXRZvT
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026
The state relief commissioner’s office described the rainfall as “exceptionally heavy”.
The highest number of deaths during the 60-hour period were reported in Sitapur, followed by Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Balrampur, Ayodhya and Gorakhpur, according to officials.
Rivers Rise Above Danger Levels
The Central Water Commission said several rivers were showing rising trends at monitoring stations, posing a flood threat to low-lying areas.
The Ghagra and Rapti rivers were rising at several locations, while the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Narmada rivers were also above danger levels at some monitoring stations.
At Elginbridge in Barabanki district, the Ghagra was flowing at 106.14 metres at 8:00 am on Sunday, above its danger level of 106.07 metres. The level was forecast to rise to 106.55 metres by Sunday night.
#EXCLUSUVE FLOOD IN LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA
Saturday, 26th September 2026 pic.twitter.com/99VGhMWAcE
— Agraprana Pahlawan (@skynewsagra) September 27, 2026
In Ayodhya, the river stood at 92.39 metres against a warning level of 91.73 metres and was expected to rise to 92.85 metres.
The Rapti was also rising sharply in eastern Uttar Pradesh. At Balrampur, it stood at 104 metres against a warning level of 103.62 metres and was forecast to rise further, the commission said.
Widespread rainfall was recorded across river basins during the 24 hours to 8.30 am on Sunday.
Rescue Operations for Stranded People
Rescue teams were conducting operations in waterlogged areas to evacuate stranded people to safer locations, the state relief department said.
Heavy rain and strong winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, inundated roads and villages and damaged more than 1,000 houses and standing crops.
The state received 45.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending Sunday, compared with a normal 1.8 mm, officials said.
The relief department advised residents to avoid unnecessary movement in water- and flood-affected areas and stay away from fast-flowing rivers, streams and drains.
Weather System Weakens
The India Meteorological Department said the system responsible for the heavy rainfall had moved north-northwestwards and weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area at 5.30 am on Sunday.
It was expected to continue moving across Uttar Pradesh and gradually weaken into a low-pressure area over the following 12 hours.
The department said the weakening system would reduce wind speeds and rainfall intensity.
Heavy rain lashed Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Bareilly and several other parts of the state, accompanied by winds reaching 30-40 kmph.
The Kanpur-Etawah highway was also reported to have suffered damage along a stretch of about 200 metres.
The weather department had forecast further heavy rainfall in parts of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Uttar Pradesh is frequently affected by heavy rain and thunderstorms during India’s annual monsoon season, which generally runs from June to September.
India’s weather office has warned in recent years of an increase in extreme weather events, including intense thunderstorms and lightning.
The latest heavy rain followed the movement inland of a depression over the Bay of Bengal, the Uttar Pradesh relief authorities said.
