Heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds have killed five people and damaged over 100 houses in Uttar Pradesh, according to officials. The state received 19 times the normal rainfall in the past 24 hours, with districts like Farrukhabad, Kanpur Nagar and Kannauj recording rainfall 200, 160 and 130 times their normal levels, respectively. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across several parts of the state on Saturday, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall possible in the central Terai region.

The deaths occurred in three separate incidents of mud-wall collapses and one tree-fall incident. In Lakhimpur Kheri's Rahmat Nagar village, three family members were killed when a mud wall collapsed during the night. In Amethi, 32-year-old Usha Devi died after a wall of a dilapidated mud house collapsed in Balbhadrapur village. A 38-year-old woman, Sunita Devi, was killed in Barabanki after a mud wall collapsed in Gopalpur village. In another incident, 45-year-old Sanjay Verma was killed when a roadside tree fell on him in Chheda Bazar village.

The rain also caused waterlogging and traffic disruptions, with residents in low-lying areas facing difficulties. Local residents reported that several roads were waterlogged, and movement became difficult in many places. Strong winds accompanying the rain added to the challenges, forcing people to take shelter. In Ayodhya, rain and strong winds affected movement around the Ram temple and surrounding areas, though devotees continued to visit the site.

Farmers in rural areas reported damage to standing crops due to strong winds and rain, with several crops falling to the ground. Concerns were raised that prolonged rain and strong winds could increase the damage. Pramod Kumar, a farmer in Hardoi, warned that if the rain and wind continue, more crops could fall, and the losses will increase.

The state government has put district administrations on alert, identifying several districts as vulnerable to sudden flooding, including Azamgarh, Ballia, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Basti, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, Gonda, Hardoi, Lucknow, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Amethi, Kaushambi and Chitrakoot. Schools have been ordered to remain closed in districts under red alert and facing the possibility of flash floods. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed district magistrates in affected districts to maintain vigilance and visit vulnerable areas.

Relief and rescue agencies have been asked to be prepared for any eventuality, and district administrations have been ordered to issue weather warnings. People have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorms and lightning and stay away from open areas, trees and water bodies. The weather system is expected to keep rainfall activity elevated over parts of Uttar Pradesh through September 27, even as it gradually weakens after moving into the state.

The IMD has forecast gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, with squalls reaching up to 60 kmph, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning across a large swathe of the state on Saturday. Heavy to very heavy rain is particularly likely in districts including Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Etah, Mainpuri and Bareilly, while several districts in eastern and southern Uttar Pradesh are also expected to receive heavy rain.

Meanwhile, in view of heavy rainfall in Nepal, special vigilance has been ordered in districts bordering the neighbouring country, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, amid the possibility of rising river levels. Fire services, Provincial Armed Constabulary, civil defence, home guards and Aapda Mitras have been asked to remain available for rescue operations, while district magistrates have been directed to stay in the field and continuously assess the situation. The Relief Commissioner said weather conditions were expected to normalise after about 36 hours and urged people needing emergency assistance to contact the relief helpline 1070.