Death toll rises to 116
LUCKNOW: The flood situation in Uttar Pradesh has worsened following heavy rains, and officials said on Wednesday that 116 people have died in the disaster in the past fortnight.
Ten districts have been severely hit by flooding. Sharda, Ghaghra and Saryu rivers are flowing above the danger mark in several districts. Heavy rains continued on Wednesday in many places.
People and livestock are being evacuated from the flooded areas and several companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been pressed into service, officials told IANS.
The situation remains grim in Lakhimpur Kheri and Siddharthnagar where flood waters have inundated vast areas.
According to the flood control center, the Ghagra is flowing two metres above the danger mark at Algin bridge in Barabanki, neighbouring the state capital Lucknow. Thousands of people have been displaced.
The Saryu river has breached the danger mark in Ballia and Ayodhya and has wrecked havoc in Basti, Gonda and Sant Kabeernagar.
Since Tuesday, four people died due to heavy rains and lightning.
According to the relief commissioner’s office, the Sharda river has breached the danger mark in Lakhimpur. The strong flow of the river has turned several hectares of agriculture land into swamps.
The maximum rains since Tuesday was recorded in Bahraich (89.2 mm), Kushinagar (80.8mm) and Gorakhpur (68.4 mm) followed by Maharajganj (60.4 mm) and Siddharthanagar (55.4 mm). (IANS)