NEW DELHI – Heavy monsoon rains that sparked floods and caused buildings tocollapse have killed at least 49 people in north India’s Uttar Pradeshstate since Thursday officials said, as the national weather agency issuedfurther storm warnings.

Some of the victims died after they were buried by collapsing buildings,while others were drowned, electrocuted or killed in traffic accidentscaused by the rain, disaster management officials said.

With scores of houses damaged, authorities in Uttar Pradesh — home to some220 million people — were on high alert and called for all buildings atrisk to be vacated.

The torrential rains have also hit New Delhi and the western state ofRajasthan that is popular with tourists, where 11 centimetres (4.3 inches)of rain was reported in 24 hours in Bharatpur district Friday.

New Delhi’s Yamuna river crossed the danger mark of 204 metres by one metreon Saturday leading the authorities to issue an alert. The water level inthe river is expected to rise further, Delhi government said.

Building collapses are common across India, especially during the monsoonseason from late June to September.

The meteorological office has warned of heavy rainfall across much ofnorthern India for the next five days. – APP/AFP