Flood fury in UP continues

Lucknow, Aug 22 (UNI) Almost 19 districts continued to be flood affected in Uttar Pradesh with the swelling of prominent rivers viz Ganga, Ram Ganga, Ghaghra, Sharda, Kuano and Rapti.

Death of seven more persons due to rain and flood related incidents in the last 24 hrs had taken the toll to 228 so far.

While, three deceased hailed from Fatehpur, two each hailed from Gorakhpur and Basti, reports said here.

Thousands of villages were still inundated in the flood-hit Basti, Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Shravasti, Faizabad, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Badaun and Jyotiba Phulenagar districts.

Over 12 lakh population was reeling under the flood situation and about 2.25 lakh hectares of land affected due to flood.

According to Central Water Commission, the turbulent Ghaghra was overflowing the danger mark by 30 cm, 58 cm and 95 cm respectively at Elignbridge, Ayodhya and Turtipar.

Kuano in Chandradeep Ghat and Ramganga in Dabri (Shahjahanpur) were overflowing the red mark by 9 cm and 24 cm respectively.

According to met department, the highest rainfall was recorded in Rae Bareli at 3 cm, followed by Kannauj and Kanpur at 2 cm each.

Ankinghat, Chillaghat, Hamirpur, Shahjini and Banda witnessed rainfall of 1 cm each.

The continuous rains in hilly areas of Uttarakhand had started affecting Pilibhit and Lakimpur Kheri by Sharda. While, Behgul was posing flood-threat to Shahjahanpur.

Meanwhile, a central team on its four-day visit is expected tomorrow to assess the flood situation and the resultant damage in the worst affected Poorvanchal (eastern) region of UP.

The situation in Gorakhpur's Bedhailganj continued to be grim with the swelling of Ghaghra river.

The Gorakhpur-Sonauli national highway remained affected for the eigth consecutive day.

UNI