19 lakh affected by UP floods; Army called in

Lucknow, Aug 2 (UNI) The Army was called in today to assist the civil administration in dealing with the grim flood situation in Uttar Pradesh which has so far affected 19 lakh people.

In the last 24 hours, rising waters claimed two more lives, taking the toll so far to 102.

Chief Minister Mayawati, meanwhile, today demanded a Rs 2200 crore package from the Centre to deal with the situation. She made an ariel survey of the flood-effected areas of the state. A statement issued by the government quoted the chief minister as charging the Centre with turning a ''blind eye'' on the recurring floods in the state.

Ms Mayawati further flayed the previous Samajwadi Party government in UP, as the renovation of damaged embankments was done in its regime.

State Relief Commissioner Umesh Sinha said here that half-a-column (around 50 personnel) of the Army has joined the district administration in Barabanki to provide relief to the marooned persons. Two flood companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have also been deployed to assist the district administration.

The Relief Commissioner said a total of 1100 villages have been effected due to floods in the 20 effected districts. Most of the east UP (Poorvanchal) districts have been hit by floods following release of water from the neighbouring Nepal.

Several hundred villages in eastern and central UP continued to suffer due to the natural calamity. The situation had been compounded due to breaches in dams and embankments in the region.

A total of 19 lakh people have reportedly affected by the fury of the floods.

According to reports from Basti, river Ghagra was flowing 1.1 mts above the danger mark and had inundated at least 247 villages.

The villagers had been warned to immediately evacuate the area and move to safer places.

Rapti and Budhi Rapti at Siddharthnagar were flowing above the red mark continuously for five days and had submerged almost 75 villages of the district.

Hundreds of boats had been pressed into service in1 the affected districts.

Two school buildings at Lakhimpur Kheri collapsed late last night following heavy downpour, whereas traffic was stranded at Tikuniya-Kodiyala highway due to water-logging, reports said.

According to Central Water Commission, river Sharda at Banvasa and Shardanagar was flowing 35 cms and 11 cms respectively above the danger mark.

UNI