NEW DELHI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least six people have died in rain-related incidents in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.
The deaths were reported from Barabanki, Kanpur Dehat, Shahjahanpur, Ballia and Kannauj districts.
"While two persons lost their lives in Barabanki, one each died in Kanpur Dehat, Ballia, Shahjahanpur and Kannauj. Several people have sustained injuries too," a disaster management official said.
"With six more deaths in the past 24 hours, the death toll in the past two days now stands at 59," he added.
Most of the deaths occurred due to house collapse because of heavy showers that have been lashing the state for the past one week, he said. "Some also died of electrocution," he said.
State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed senior district administration and police officials to oversee the situation, provide relief and make people vacate unsafe buildings.
The weather department has predicted more rains throughout the day. "Heavy showers are likely to lash Uttar Pradesh. Some rivers are also flowing at danger levels," a weather official said.
Building collapses are common in India during monsoon every year because of poor construction standards to meet demand for low-cost houses and lack of regards for basic safety norms.
