Floods grip Uttar Pradesh again

Lucknow, Sep 23: The release of a large volume of water from Nepal and Uttarakhand barrages has caused a spate in the turbulent Ghagra and Yamuna rivers, and flooded several districts of Uttar Pradesh once again.

The torrential rainfall witnessed by the state during last week has also led to the flood situation in Sitapur, Barabanki, Lakhimpur, Faizabad, Gonda and Behraich districts.

In Barabanki, the district administration has called up the Army for rescue and relief work to prevent further worsening of the situation.

The Sharda river was wreaking havoc in 200 villages of Lakhimpur Kheri, where the river was in spate after the release of a large volume of water from Banbasa dam.

UP Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta visited Behraich district and took stock of the situation, where the swollen Ghagra has affected altogether 150 villages in the district, besides posing danger to a dam.

Reports from Gonda said the river Ghagra has submerged over 100 villages, following the recent release of 6 lakh cusec water from Nepal.

The movement of trains on Lakhimpur-Sitapur rail route, meanwhile, remained suspended for the fourth day today after the water of overflowing Suheli river crept on the tracks.

aking note of the grim condition, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has directed the officials to ensure that the flood victims reached safer confines and the relief work was carried out on priority basis. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), Sharda was 105 cm above the danger level in Paliyakala (Lakhimpur Kheri), while the river was 91 cm above the red mark in Shardanagar (Lakhimpur Kheri).

Ghagra was overflowing by 125 cm and five cm respectively in Elginbridge (Barabanki) and Turtipar (Ballia).

Saryu was 72 cm above the red mark in Ayodhya, whereas Ganga was towards an upward trend.

Weather office said moderate to heavy rainfall occurred at most places in Moradabad divisions, at a few places in Gorakhpur divisions, while light to moderate rain lashed a few places in Kanpur division in the last 24 hrs. Weather was mainly dry in remaning divisions of the state.

Sant Kabirnagar recorded 4 cm rainfall, followed by Moradabad 3 and Ayodhya 2.

The weatherman has, meanwhile, forecast light to moderate rainfall/thundershowers for most places including Lucknow, Faizabad and Gorakhpur divisions and at isolated places in Meerut, Moradabad, Bareilly and Agra divisions in the next 24 hrs.

UNI