Rivers in spate, UP on edge

Uttar Pradesh rivers continued to swell with fresh downpour across the state and forecast for wet conditions in the next couple of days.

At least three rivers, Ghaghra, Budhi Rapti and Kwano, were flowing above the danger mark at Paliakalan, Elginbridge, Turtipar, Kakarahi, Chandra Ghat and Mukhlishpur.

According to the Central Water Commission report, Ghaghra, Rapti, Kunhara and Kwano are just shy of the red mark at several other places, including Ayodhya and Balrampur.

"UP would continue to receive moderate to heavy rainfall in the next couple of days spanning eastern, central and western regions," UP Meteorological Director J P Gupta told Business Standard.

The rivers are in spate not only due to fresh deluge, but downstream water flowing down the hills from the Himalayas.

So far, about 100 persons in UP had been killed in incidents related to rainfall, including lightning and house collapse.

The rivers have flooded thousands of hectares of farmland affecting almost a million people in a dozen districts, including Lakhimpur Kheri, Farrukhabad, Barabanki, Bahraich, Sitapur, Badaun, Balrampur and Faizabad.

The state had deployed 17 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary in flood-prone districts and requested eight more companies of central forces. On the direction of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Rs 50 lakh each had been allocated for the districts.

Against the backdrop of the tragedy in Uttarakhand wrought by heavy downpour and cloudbursts, UP has been on high alert against floods, setting up a 24-hour helpline in the affected districts.

The most flood-prone districts are Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore, Amroha, Lahimpur Kheri, Barabanki, Pilibhit, Saharanpur, Bahraich, Balrampur, Sitapur, Basti, Gonda and Sant Kabirnagar.