8 dead, 330 houses damaged as heavy rain batters UP's Hardoi

Heavy rainfall in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district has claimed eight lives and damaged or destroyed around 330 houses since September 25, with rain-related incidents also killing nearly 30 animals, officials said.

Of the eight deaths, six were caused by walls or houses collapsing, while two people died of snake bites amid the heavy rain.

In the latest incident, 45-year-old Makrand, son of Shivlal, was killed after a mud wall collapsed on him in Ummarpurwa hamlet of Khajurahara village under the Sursa police station area. A cow and a bull were also killed in the collapse.

In Barbatapur village of Baghauli, 50-year-old Aarti Singh died after a mud wall collapsed on Saturday night. In Lakhamapur in the Pali area, 13-year-old Jeetu was killed when a brick wall collapsed.

Nisha, wife of Naseem, who was injured in a wall collapse in Garhi village in Shahabad on Friday, died while undergoing treatment.

In Fatehpur hamlet of Gaju in Kachhauna, 55-year-old Sunderlal was killed when a wall fell on him while he was taking out fodder. In Sikandarpur village of Beniganj, a tree fell and brought down a house wall, killing 11-year-old Monika after she was trapped under the debris.

Two other deaths were reported from snake bites. Nisha, daughter of Bhanu, died in Rasulpur in Sandila, while Ragini, daughter of Pankaj, died in Banamau in Sawayajpur.

Additional District Magistrate Dipali Bhargava said Hardoi has been severely affected by excessive rainfall since September 25 and that administration and police teams have been carrying out relief and rescue operations across the district.

"Waterlogging is being cleared continuously and our machines are working round the clock," Bhargava said. Roads affected by the rain have been restored, while repair work on damaged culverts is underway.

Power supply at electricity substations that were affected by waterlogging has also been restored, she said.

According to the ADM, five deaths have so far been officially reported due to excessive rainfall, apart from the two caused by snake bites. The administration has sent a request to the state government for financial assistance for the affected families and said immediate relief would be provided.

Relief camps are operating in the Shahabad, Sandila and Sawayajpur tehsils, where arrangements for food, drinking water and accommodation have been made for affected residents.

The administration said it remains on alert as rescue, drainage and restoration work continues in the rain-affected areas.- EndsWith inputs from Prashant Pathak