14 more districts drought-hit in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has said 14 more districts, including Lucknow, are drought-hit. With this, more than two thirds of the state districts have now been declared drought-hit, an official said Tuesday.

Officials said the drought in 58 of the 75 districts was due to scanty rainfall.

The below average rainfall during the monsoon months has rendered a blow to agriculture and the paddy crop has been devastated in 53 districts, officials said, adding the drought was more severe in five districts.

The rainfall has been only 40% of the average, a senior official told IANS.

Thirty four districts have received 40-60% rainfall, while only five districts have received adequate rainfall.

The new districts added to the drought list are Sant Ravidas Nagar, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Baghpat, Sultanpur, Rae Bareli, Moradabad, Gonda, Hathras, Shahjahanpur and Chandauli.

Officials said the districts facing acute drought conditions include Rampur, Meerut, Budaun, Saharanpur, Etah, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Hapur, Mainpuri, besides others.