Schools closed UP amid heavy rain: Lucknow experiences overnight showers

In Varanasi, streets turned into temporary ponds, with water accumulating up to two feet in several areas. Around 20,000 people gathered at Nati Imli to watch the Bharat Milap programme, many braving the downpour under umbrellas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for heavy rainfall in 10 districts and light showers in 47 others. IMD Lucknow meteorologist Atul Kumar Singh said the state may continue to see intermittent rain over the next four to five days due to a low-pressure area forming in the Bay of Bengal and a new system along the Gujarat coast.

Heavy rains were also recorded on Thursday in districts including Varanasi, Noida, Kannauj, Sambhal, Rampur, Fatehpur, and Mau. The downpour caused the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna to fall in several districts. Meanwhile, in Jhansi, a video surfaced showing four people transporting a tractor across a river by boat.

Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution on waterlogged roads and remain alert as monsoon activity continues across the state.