Rivers show signs of improvement in UP; toll at 175

Lucknow, Aug 8 (UNI) Even as the turbulent Ghagra, Rapti and Kuano rivers showed signs of improvement in 22 flood--affected districts of Uttar Pradesh, the toll due to rain-triggered incidents today mounted to 175, following the death of eight more people since yesterday.

The fresh deaths were reported from Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Ferozabad and Maharajganj districts, reports reaching here said.

According to Central Water Commission, Rapti was flowing 36 cms above the red mark in Gorakhpur, while it was 19 cms above the danger mark in Bansi.

Ghagra was overflowing at 87 cms in Turtipar and it was 40 cms above the danger mark in Ayodhya.

Talking to reporters here, State Relief Commissioner Umesh Sinha informed the flood fury continued in Shrawasti, Bahraich, Basti, Barabanki, Siddharthnagar, Gorakhpur and Azamgarh districts, while Pilibhit, Faizabad, Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Gonda, Balrampur, Sitapur, Ballia, Mau and Kushinagar were partially affected.

Mr Sinha added almost 5 lakh hectare land had been submerged. It includes 3 lakh hectare agricultural land. About 2,200 life saving boats had been pressed into service.

In Maharajganj, the rescue operation was on in full swing with the help of the army.

Gorakhpur District Magistrate Ranjeet Singh Pankaj said the southern areas were still reeling under flood.

Owing to pressure on Nakbaitha bridge near river Ama, vehicular traffic remained disrupted between Gorakhpur-Barhalganj, for the fourth consecutive day.

A dip of about 5 cms had been recorded in several rivers of the Gorakhpur division, which had been in spate of late.

While, two people were reported drowned in Gorakhpur, one person in a rain-related incident in Maharajganj district in the last 24 hrs.

''A 25-metre crack in embankment has caused breaching of Gandhak river in Kushinagar,'' District Magistrate Amrita Soni said.

UNI