Flood situation continues to be grim in 9 districts

Lucknow, Aug 2: Even as rainfall has abated since a week, deluge continues to play havoc in nine districts, including Lakhimpur, Gonda, Faizabad, Gorakhpur and Basti.

Meanwhile, ''little'' or ''no rains'' have river brought back sultry weather conditions in the state.

According to Central Water Commission, Sharda was flowing 27 cm in Paliyankala and seven cm above the danger mark in Shardanagar, whereas Ghaghra was flowing 21 cm, 16 cm and 49 cm above the red mark at Elginbridge, Ayodhya and Turtipur respectively.

The flood-water has displaced a large population of several districts, who were being taken to safer places with the assistance of district administration and rescue and relief work was on in full swing.

A team of medicos have also been pressed into service.

Reports from Gorakhpur said flood situation remained worse in seven districts of eastern UP, including Gorakhpur and Basti divisions. In addition, hot and humid weather had re-visited the region as no rainfall has occurred since last few days.

Gorakhpur Divisional Commissioner P K Mohanti said on Saturday August 2 that at least 929 villages had been affected and 345 marooned with the calamity in Gorakhpur, Deoria and Maharajganj districts.

So far, 36 people were killed in rain related incidents and crops worth Rs 14 crore had been destroyed in these divisions, Mr Mohanti added.

However, there was no affect of flood in Kushinagar district.

In Basti, Ghaghra river was flowing 16 cms above the red mark and posing danger to B D dam and Saifabad Kalwari, where district administration was maintaining strict vigil and even minor cracks being repaired speedily.

Over 350 villages of Harraiya, Basti and Bhanpur Tehsils were affected by flood, while over 100 others were marooned in Basti, reports reaching here added.

In Sitapur, almost 10 villages came under the impact of flood.

Additional District Magistrate Akhilesh Singh had passed neccesary directions.

An alert has been sounded in the district and boats deployed for assistance to the victims. Hospital authorities were also on thier toes for help. Oil was also being distributed among the affected people. Denizens were also being asked to be alert as a dam was facing threat from Sharda river.

According to Met department, in the last 24 hrs, in Jhansi eight cm rainfall was recorded, in Dalmau it was three cm whereas, Lucknow, Allahabad and Deoria received one cm each.

Meanwhile, weathermen forcasts little to moderate rainfall at isolated places in all the divisions in the next 24 hrs.

UNI