UP Floods: 3 Killed, Over 16,000 Evacuated As 23 Districts Hit; PM Modi Takes Stock Of Varanasi Situation

Lucknow: At least three people have died and more than 16,000 have been evacuated as floodwaters affected as many as 23 districts across Uttar Pradesh. Officials said 3042 persons were rescued and moved to safer places on Wednesday.

The deaths were reported in Pratapgarh and Amroha. An 18-month-old boy, Priyansh, from Pratapgarh died, while Shera, 32, and Suresh, 55, from Gajraula in Amroha also lost their lives in rain-related incidents, officials said.

Those districts affected in the floods include Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Chandauli, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Unnao and Varanasi.

In view of the current sitiation, the state government has deployed 1,499 boats and motorboats for rescue and relief operations, while 1,067 medical teams have been pressed into service. Moreover, it has set up 1,311 flood shelters, of which 201 are currently operational. Relief agencies have also provided assistance in 442 cases involving damaged houses, while 36,287 livestock have been affected.

PM Modi Takes Stock Of Varanasi Floods

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Varanasi District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar and took detailed stock of the flood situation in the city. Modi, who is also the MP from Varanasi, reportedly sought information about the rising water level of the Ganga and the arrangements at relief camps for people affected by the floods.

The Prime Minister directed the district administration to work on a war footing to provide relief to affected people and ensure that all necessary facilities reach them immediately.

He also asked officials to make immediate arrangements wherever additional relief material is required and speed up relief work. "PM Modi has spoken to the Mayor and Collector of Varanasi and taken stock of the flood related situation in the city. He was briefed on the relief measures being undertaken. PM asked them to ensure that citizens face least possible inconvenience," said sources in the PMO.

Relief Operations Expedited

In Chitrakoot, around 150 people were rescued from Chaura village along the Mandakini river with the help of motorboats operated by the 42nd Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Food, relief material and medical assistance were provided to those rescued.

In Ballia, rising levels of the Ganga and Saryu have affected around 20,500 people. Authorities have deployed 83 boats and distributed 6,500 ration kits, 33,843 medicine kits and 83,092 packets of cooked food.

A total of 16,629 livestock have been vaccinated and 965 quintals of fodder have been provided. Flood posts, NDRF and PAC teams have also been deployed. Also, relief shelters and community kitchens have been set up at Gopalnagar Tadi and Bhojpurwa.

More than two lakh cusecs of water was released from Banbasa into the Sharda, while over 30,000 cusecs was released from Nanak Sagar into the Deoha, officials said.

The floods have also affected schools and educational instituitions. While the submergence of the Khakra bridge cut off around 18 villages, officials have suspended classes for students from Classes 1 to 8 until situation improves.

Residents in low-lying areas were advised to move to safer places. At the 200-bed medical college, the main power supply remained disrupted for more than 34 hours after rainwater entered an underground cable box. Generators were being used to maintain essential services.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, District Magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh inspected the Girija barrage afflux bund and areas affected by erosion along the Mohana river. Round-the-clock work was underway, while around a dozen houses in the submerged area were being relocated.

Officials added that the Sharda river at Palia was flowing 35 cm above the danger mark of 154.59 metres and remained steady. Agricultural land and village approach roads were inundated, although no village was reported to be completely flooded.

So far, authorities have distributed 68,953 foodgrain packets and more than 3.36 lakh lunch packets as part of the relief efforts. More than 5.02 lakh chlorine tablets and over 1.77 lakh ORS packets have also been distributed to help prevent water-borne diseases.

The administration has advised people living in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

In Ghaziabad, a yellow alert will remain in force until September 4. Residents have been advised to exercise caution during heavy rain and avoid waterlogged areas.

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