Eastern UP continue to reel under flood

Lucknow, Sep 5: Several parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh continued to reel under the effect of turbulent Ghaghra, Rapti and Banganga rivers, that have swelled following incessant rainfall in the vegion during the last 24 hrs.

The flood threat is still hovering over Siddharthnagar, Sant Kabirnagar and Basti districts.

According to the Central Water Commission, Budhi Rapti was overflowing the danger mark by 1.64 metre in Kakrahi, while Ghaghra was flowing above the red mark by 19, four and three cm in Turtipar, Elgin Bridge and Ayodhya respectively.

Sharda was, however, flowing below the danger mark by four cm and 37 cm in Paliakalan and Shardanagar respectively.

Almost 85 villages accounting for over 30,000 population were inundated in Basti. The rescue and relief operations were on in full swing, reports said here.

According to a report from Siddharthnagar, almost 12 villages of the Shauratgarh tehsil were inundated and thousands of hectares of land submerged in flood waters. As many as 50 more villages of Naugarh, Shauratgarh and Bansi tehsils were affected by flood caused by Budhi Rapti. About 30 villages of Ganghata tehsil were affected by Ghaghra in Sant Kabirnagar district. Over 200 people have fallen ill to various contagious diseases in the area.

In Balrampur, over 40 villages were affected by flood in river Rapti and vehicular traffic on several highways was blocked.

In the last 24 hrs, the highest rainfall was recorded in Bareilly at 13 cm, followed by Ghazipur and Rae Bareli at 4 cm each. Basti, Lucknow and Kanpur witnessed rainfall of 2 cm each.

The weatherman has forecast scanty downpur at few places in UP.

UNI