Continuous rain triggered by a low-pressure system and an active western disturbance has disrupted normal life across several states, with Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal among the worst affected.
Uttar Pradesh has reported 15 rain-related deaths in the past 48 hours, with strong winds and heavy showers causing accidents, collapsing structures and damaging crops. Authorities have shut schools and colleges in affected districts as a precaution.
The weather has also hit agriculture, with early-ripening paddy affected by persistent rain. Strong winds have damaged paddy, maize, sugarcane and vegetable crops in several areas.
UP Records 19 Times More Rain Than Normal
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low-pressure area over northeastern Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is moving northwest towards Uttar Pradesh. An active western disturbance is influencing the weather at the same time.
Delhi also received light to moderate rain on Saturday, three days after the monsoon had withdrawn from the capital.
Uttar Pradesh recorded 19 times its normal rainfall in the 24 hours preceding the report. From Awadh and Purvanchal to Bundelkhand and western Uttar Pradesh, several districts reported collapsed mud houses, walls and trees. Flooded roads, power outages and disruptions to rail and air services were also reported.
The Awadh region recorded the highest number of deaths at 28. Gorakhpur received 150 mm of rain in just two hours, affecting the Gorakhpur-Lucknow-Varanasi railway route. Flights between Bareilly and Delhi were cancelled, while a head constable died in Prayagraj.
The Mandakini River crossed the danger mark in Chitrakoot, where the water level rose by 70 cm. The overflowing Bardaha River also disrupted connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Flood-Like Situation In Chhattisgarh
Heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has led to flood-like conditions in several parts of Chhattisgarh, with the rising water levels of the Kharun River causing waterlogging in villages across the Raipur and Durg districts. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for several districts, along with an orange alert in Korea and Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi for Saturday.
Rail services on the Kottavalasa-Kirandul (KK) line connecting Bastar with Andhra Pradesh have been suspended. A section of the Raipur-Tadoki railway line at Gunderdehi in Balod district also collapsed, leaving a passenger train stranded at a station for nearly three hours.
Rivers Swell, Dams Release Water In Madhya Pradesh
Several districts in Madhya Pradesh's Mahakaushal-Vindhya region continue to receive rain. In Chitrakoot, the Mandakini rose above the danger level, reaching 127.20 metres at Ramghat on Friday night, 70 centimetres above the danger mark.
The Narmada and other rivers are also in spate.
Authorities have opened 12 gates of the Bansagar Dam in Shahdol and 13 gates of the Bargi Dam in Jabalpur. Four gates of the Johila Dam in Umaria and two gates of the Sanjay Sarovar Bhimgarh Dam in Seoni have also been opened.
In Mandla's Hirapur village, four youths died, and three others suffered severe burns after rain reportedly caused electricity to spread through a Ganesh pandal early Saturday.
Bihar On Flood Alert, Jharkhand Sees Disruptions
Three days of intermittent rain in Bihar have pushed up river levels, prompting a flood alert across 17 districts.
In neighbouring Jharkhand, heavy rain has disrupted normal life. Six flights were cancelled at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi, while schools were shut in several districts, including Ranchi and Jamshedpur.
The Swarnarekha River in East Singhbhum was flowing 2.02 metres above the danger mark, while the Kharkai was 4.50 metres above it. The water level at Ranchi's Kanke Dam reached 27.05 feet.
Odisha Flood Situation Worsens
More than 73,085 people across 10 Odisha districts have been affected by the weather.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said 1,071 villages in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, Kandhamal and Balangir have been affected.
River levels in northern Odisha, including the Mahanadi, are rising. Flood-like conditions have been reported in Basta, Baliapal, Bhograi and Jaleswar in Balasore as the Subarnarekha and Jalaka rivers swell.
Thirty-one gates of the Anandpur Barrage have been opened, while water is being released through 20 gates of the Hirakud Dam. A landslide and a large rock falling onto a road have disrupted traffic through the Kalinga Valley in Kandhamal district.
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Uttarakhand Suspends Char Dham, Adi Kailash Yatras
Additionally, there has been rainfall and snowfall in the state of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The Char Dham and Adi Kailash yatras have been suspended due to weather conditions. The Inner Line Permits for the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Darshan yatras have been suspended until October 26.
The Maa Purnagiri Dham in Champawat has been shut down till further notice. Also, rafting on the Ganga in Rishikesh has been suspended.
Landslides have disrupted the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route between Tanakpur and Lipulekh at three locations. Garud-Bageshwar National Highway has also been affected at a landslide site near Rawai Khal in Bageshwar.
A red rain alert has also been sounded in Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri districts, while others are in orange alert.