NDRF continues rescue, relief ops as flood situation in Bihar, UP remains critical

As the flood situation in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continues to be grim, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has launched a massive relief and rescue operation in the flood-hit areas of both states.

NDRF Director General O. P. Singh told ANI that five teams have been deployed from its base in Odisha to Uttar Pradesh.

"The flood situation remains critical in both Bihar and UP. Keeping that in consideration, we have called NDRF teams from outside. Five NDRF teams from Odisha have already arrived in Uttar Pradesh and will be deployed in areas like Balia, Jaunpur, Gazipur, and Allahabad. There is no life threatening situation in UP, still the teams are being deployed there," he said.

In Uttar Pradesh, the flood situation in eastern parts of the state is still grim. Ganga is rising in many places, including Allahabad and Varanasi.

The schools in Allahabad and Varanasi have been closed as a precautionary measure.

Talking about the situation in Bihar, he said that evacuations have been done in some parts of the state.

"The teams would be also equipped with boats and essential items like medicines. The NDRF teams also helping the state administration in distribution of relief materials," he added.

The Centre last night rushed 10 NDRF teams to flood-hit areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in order to launch massive relief and rescue operations to help those marooned in these states.

The NDRF DG also briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the flood situation in these states late last night.

In order to launch massive operations in the two worst-affected states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the NDRF has created on-ground control rooms in these two states and deputed two senior Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) S.S. Guleria (Patna) and R.K. Rana (Varanasi) to take control of the situation.