Flood situation remains grim in Uttar Pradesh

Shahjahanpur (U.P.), Sept 28 : Flood situation remained grim in Shahjahanpur District of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday where thousands of people have been affected in more than 200 villages of the district so far.

Rising rivers have burst their banks and swamped vast areas of farmlands and villages, forcing thousands from their homes in the state.

Floods have created havoc in the district as the flood waters have inundated over 200 villages in the district and also Lucknow-Delhi National Highway-24 thereby disrupting the transport system.

The reason behind floods is said to be release of water from Nanak Sagar dam near the district leading to swelling of Garra and Khannot River.

Trucks are stranded on the highway waiting for the water to recede.

"I am standing here since last night. Material loaded in my truck is getting damaged. I don't know what next, only God can tell when I will be able to move from here," said Mahesh, a truck driver.

Ministi S, District Magistrate, Shahjahanpur, reviewed the situation in flood-hit district and said traffic has to be controlled until water recedes.

"We are checking the situation currently. It's a very critical situation at the highway but we don't want casualties as well. So if we don't control traffic any vehicle might get stuck in water as situation is very critical. We are hoping that once the water starts receding we would start diverting the traffic. Highway is our top priority but most important is that nobody should loose their life," Ministi S told reporters.

At least 100 people have been killed in Uttar Pradesh since last week, as heavy monsoon rains caused rivers to burst their banks, sweeping away houses.

Uttar Pradesh is country's most populous state with 170 million people, and also one of the most flood-prone regions in the country. Heavy flooding kills hundreds every year in the state.

Monsoon rains and flooded rivers have brought huge devastation across South Asia this year, killing at least 1,500 people, mostly in India and Nepal.

ANI