16 die, 12 injured in UP rains: officials

Sixteen people were killed and 12 injured in rain-related incidents across Uttar Pradesh since Saturday, officials said Sunday even as the meteorological department predicted rainfall throughout the state for the next two days.

The day also witnessed IAF personnel rescuing 14 people stranded in Lalitpur and Jhansi districts due to heavy rains, drawing appreciation from UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Shahjahanpur bore the maximum brunt of the weather onslaught on Saturday, as six people were killed in incidents of lightning strike, while seven were injured.

A statement by the office of the UP Relief Commissioner on Sunday said, "Six people lost their lives in Shahjahanpur, while three died in Sitapur district and two people each in Auraiyya and Amethi".

One person each died in Lakhimpur Kheri, Rae Bareli and Unnao, it said adding all the deaths took place on Saturday.

Eighteen animals were killed and as many as 461 houses or huts were damaged, the statement added.

The meteorological department predicted widespread rainfall in eastern and western parts of the state on Monday and Tuesday.

District Magistrate, Shahjahanpur, Amrit Tripathi said some youngsters were grazing cattle in Shamsherpur village on Saturday, when sudden downpour forced them to take shelter under a tree.

"Mohit (24), Bablu (5), Anmol (10) and Dablu (11) died when they were struck by lightning, while three were seriously injured," he said.

Vandana (11) of Nabipur village and Ashok (42) of Sikandarpur village, also lost their lives when lightning struck them, Tripathi said.

"Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ramji Mishra was sent to the spot. Financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh is being made available to kin of the deceased," he said.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem and the injured admitted to Shahjahanpur district hospital, police said.

Meanwhile, IAF personnel rescued 14 people stranded in Lalitpur and Jhansi districts.

Six people were marooned in a village of Lalitpur district Sunday morning following heavy rains. In Garautha tehsil of Jhansi district, eight fishermen were stranded on an island near Erech Dam on the Betwa River after a sudden rise in water level owing to heavy downpour, they said.

Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said, "All six people were successfully rescued in Lalitpur district. The IAF team did a fantastic job."