22 die in incessant UP rains

Lucknow, July 5: Twenty-two people were killed since Friday evening in heavy rains that lashed vast areas of Uttar Pradesh triggering house collapses, inundating low-lying areas and creating traffic snarls.

All major rivers in the state were rising menacingly with some crossing the red mark following incessant rains, official sources said.

Fifteen people, including four girls and a 65-year-old woman, were killed in separate incidents of house collapse in Sultanpur, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh and Allahabad districts.

One rain-related death each was reported from Fatehpur, Ambedkarnagar, Unnao, Gonda, Barabanki, Amethi and Deoria, the sources said.

A number of heads of cattle also perished in widespread rains which submerged low-lying areas in several districts raising fears of water-borne diseases.

Traffic snarls were also reported in many areas, the sources said.