Schools, colleges shut in India's Uttar Pradesh state amid heavy rains

NEW DELHI, September 17: India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday announced shutting down all schools and colleges for the next two days amid incessant rains for more than 24 hours, leading to a floods-like situation.

A red alert has been sounded in many districts, even as the state government advised people not to venture out of their homes and avoid unnecessary travel for the next couple of days.