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Dozens die in north India floods, thousands evacuated

Lucknow - The Met Office has predicted more rain in the next 24 hours.

A heavy spell of retreating monsoon rains has flooded wide areas of northern India, killing dozens of people and thousands moved to relief camps this past week, an official said.
Sandhaya Kureel, a spokeswoman of the Disaster Management and Relief Department, said most of the 59 fatalities were caused by house collapses, lightning and drowning in Uttar Pradesh state. They included at least five people dying of snake bites in flooded areas.
The temple city of Varanasi was lashed by 19 centimeters (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.
J.P. Gupta, director of the state Meteorological Department, said the rain is expected to ebb after Monday.
The Press Trust of India news agency said the western state of Maharashtra also was hit by heavy rain and nearly 3,000 people were moved to higher ground due to flooding in low-lying areas of Pune city and neighbouring areas.
Heavy rain continues in Bihar, 24 dead so far
Heavy rains continued in Bihar for the third consecutive day on Sunday, throwing normal life out of gear, officials said, adding that over 24 people have been killed so far.
The Met Office has predicted more rain in the next 24 hours and the state government has issued a 'red alert'.
The unexpected 'heavy to extremely heavy rain' has so far claimed the lives of over 24 people - mostly drowned, across the state, officials of disaster management department said here.

The water level in major rivers including Ganga, Koshi, Gandak, Bagmati, Mahananda, are on the rise, threatening to breach embankments at many places.

The water resources department has alerted the concerned officials and asked the district authorities to take measures to deal with any possibility.

The Centre has already deployed teams of National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force for rescue and relief operations in vulnerable places.

According to weather department officials, state capital Patna has received 151mm rain since Saturday - a record in recent years.

Patna is now facing a flood-like situation with water is all around. People have been forced to stay indoors as most of the roads in the narrow lanes were water-logged.

Boats are being deployed in several localities to help people.
"This is the first time I have seen boats plying on the water-logged roads in Patna, it is new for us," Sanket Jha, a college student of Rajendra Nagar colony, said.

"Entire Patna is water-logged because of choked drainage. It has caused havoc in residential localities and exposed the Patna Municipal Corporation," Lakhender Mahto, a retired school teacher, told IANS here.

The rain has also affected the movement of trains, road traffic as well as flight operations. Twelve long route trains and several passenger trains have been cancelled.

There were reports of damage to the National Highways at several places in north Bihar districts.

The flood water has also entered houses, shops and hospitals at many places in the state.

According to reports, water entered the residence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi in Rajendra Nagar.

Water also made its way to the residence former Chief Minister Satender Narayan Singh on Boring road, BJP MP Rajeev Pratap Rudy, and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in Patna.