New Delhi  - At least 22 people were killed in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state in heavy rains over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll across the country in rain-related incidents to 281, officials and news reports said Saturday.

The Indian Meteorological Department predicted more heavy rain in eastern, northern and parts of central India over the next 24 hours.

Most of the deaths in Uttar Pradesh were caused by incidents of house collapse and flooding, PTI news agency reported.

All major rivers in the state were rising and some had crossed their danger level. Cattle also perished in the floods.

Officials at the Department of National Disaster Management said the 281 death toll applied to the affected states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

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 move 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)