Floods in India's Uttar Pradesh kill 81: new toll

The death toll from floods triggered by heavy rain in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 81, the government's disaster agency said.

Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state with more than 240 million people, is frequently lashed by rain and thunderstorms during the monsoon rainy season from June to September.

The deaths were reported during a spell of exceptionally heavy rain, according to a situation report released by the Relief Commissioner's office late Sunday.

The report said more than 2,200 houses were damaged and 154 animals died in rain-related incidents, while 81 hectares of farms were damaged.

India's weather office has warned in recent years of an increase in extreme weather events, including intense thunderstorms and lightning, which experts link to rising temperatures and changing climate patterns.

All but one of the state's 75 districts recorded "large excess" rainfall on Sunday, the disaster agency's report said.