New Delhi  - Heavy rains across India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh have claimed at least 27 lives bringing the death toll in rain-related incidents in the region to over 600, officials said Thursday.

Most of the deaths were caused by houses collapsing and flooding in six districts in the state.

"Nineteen of the 27 deaths since Wednesday were reported from the central district of Sitapur," said Ramakant Shukla, a official in the state's revenue department which is tasked with rescue and relief operations.

"More than 100 people have died in 11 districts across the state in the torrential rains over the past five days," he added.

Meanwhile, the state's weather department forecast heavy rains in the region over the next few days.

Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, has been the worst affected by the monsoon-driven floods this year. According to official figures, 600 people died in the state since June.

In all, more than 1,420 people had died in the monsoon rains in states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, Indian Home Ministry officials said.

India's monsoon season lasts from June to October but came a few weeks early this year. The rains are the heaviest in eastern India and gradually moved across in a north-westerly direction.

The seasonal rains in 2007 were the most devastating in recent memory, with more than 3,200 people killed across several states. (dpa)