New Delhi- The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued severe weather alerts as heavy rains batter several northern and eastern states, causing flash floods that have claimed lives, inundated farmlands, and destroyed homes.

The IMD has issued 'orange' and 'red' alerts for Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh, respectively, cautioning that heavy rainfall on Friday could exacerbate the flood situation.

This forecast follows a substantial increase in rainfall across North and Northeast India, including Delhi-NCR and East Uttar Pradesh.

In Uttar Pradesh, devastating floods have impacted 12 districts, affecting over 800,000 people and submerging thousands of acres of agricultural land. Several fatalities have been reported due to lightning strikes.

Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with authorities evacuating more than 10,000 people to safer locations. Key infrastructure, such as railway lines and bridges, has been severely damaged, adding to the difficulties faced by local residents.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Shravasti on Thursday. He also distributed relief materials to the residents of these areas.

Many villages in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri have been severely impacted by the overflow of the Sharda River due to heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand. Homes have been damaged, forcing people to relocate to makeshift shelters.

In Assam, floods have caused extensive damage, affecting over 1.4 million people across 27 districts. The Kaziranga National Park has been severely impacted, with the tragic loss of 107 wild animals. Rising water levels have disrupted road traffic, complicating relief efforts.

The flood situation remains dire in Assam's Nagaon district, affecting thousands of residents. The deluge has claimed 84 lives across the state so far.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 79,000 people, including 20,612 children, are still affected by the floods in Nagaon district. Floodwaters have inundated 184 villages across six revenue circles and submerged 18,231.8 hectares of crop area.

The IMD has also issued alerts for Konkan, Goa, and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Karnataka, where heavy rainfall is expected to persist in the coming days.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and relief efforts are ongoing to assist those affected by the severe flooding.