Uttar Pradesh floods death toll rises to 63

Lucknow, Aug 19: The toll in Uttar Pradesh floods on Tuesday increased to 63, with reports of 15 more deaths in the state where several rivers breached their embankments, making the situation grim in flood-affected areas.

While eight persons died in Bahraich district, three each in Shravasti and Balrampur and one in Lakhimpur were killed due to flood-related incidents in past 24 hours taking the toll to 63, official sources said. State Irrigation Minister Shivpal Yadav today did aerial survey in flood-affected areas in Bahraich, Shravasti and Balrampur districts and has issued directives to the officials.

More than three lakh population in 1,206 hamlets of 220 villages were affected due to flood in Bahraich district where relief and rescue work is being carried out by NDRF, PAC, SSB, police, revenue employees and voluntary organisations, a report from Bahraich said.

In Shravasti, around 60,000 people in more than 100 villages of Bhinga and Ikauna tehsils are affected due to floods, of them more than 28,000 people have been moved to safe places, official sources said. According to report from Lakhimpur, affect of flood continues in Nighasan teshil due to Mohana river and in Dhaurahra tehsil due to Ghaghra river.

Though water has receded it is posing threat of breach alongside the river at a number of places. Sub divisional magistrate, Dhaurahra, Nagendra Singh said following possibility of breach, NDRF, PAC and steamers have been deployed. He said that body of a woman, who drowned in flood water, has been recovered.

Report from Azamgarh said that Ghaghra was playing havoc and around 60,000 people in 80 villages of Sagdi tehsil were affected by flood. Pressure was increasing on Mahula-Garhwal checkdam and there was a breach near Parsia village. Executive engineer, flood division, Pradeep Kumar said though the breach has been repaired, but the threat was not over.

According to report from Balrampur district water has receded in Tulsipur and Balrampur tehsils, but was increasing in Utraula. Balrampur-Tulsipur and Balrampur-Utraula routes have been closed. Three boys drowned in Utraula of which body of one has been fished out.

Report from Barabanki said that 95,000 people were affected in 118 villages of different tehsils. Ghaghra was still flowing more than one meter above the danger mark at Elgin Bridge. District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said in the wake of increasing pressure on checkdams, directives have been issued for regular patrolling for the safety of families.

He said that 12 medical teams and four ambulances have been deployed for treatment of people in flood-affected areas.

PTI