300 villages in western UP cut off from district HQs due to flooding following heavy rains

india

Updated: Aug 29, 2018 12:39 IST

An estimated 300 villages in the north-western part of Uttar Pradesh have been cut off from their respective district headquarters due to rising river levels following heavy rain over the past few days.

Most of the these villages fall in districts Moradabad, Sambhal, Amroha, Rampur, Pilibhit and areas of Lakhimpur Kheri bordering Nepal.

“My house is submerged in nine feet of water. All our belongings have been destroyed. Somehow, we managed to leave the village,” said Mansoor Khan of Khaddar area in Amroha -- among the worst hit districts. Mansoor said he and his family of five were staying with their relatives in Amroha city.

In Moradabad district at least 53 villages falling under Sadar area have been cut off from the district headquarters, as the connecting roads are flooded.

“Some villages in Thakurdwar, Kanth and Bilari have been affected by the rising water level in river Ram Ganga that passes through the district,” said Rakesh Kumar, district magistrate of Moradabad.

In Moradabad district at least 53 villages falling under Sadar area have been cut off from the district headquarters, as the connecting roads are flooded. ( PTI )

Likewise, the swelling Sharda, which passes through parts of Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri, has caused flooding in low-lying areas. In Pilibhit, around 40 villages located in northern and eastern parts of the district have been isolated from the district headquarters.

The districts are also still to assess and compile the damage caused by flooding.

At least nine people have lost their lives in flood-related accidents. Flood waters have also submerged swathes of farmland, with several hectares of land near river banks being eroded due to the strong current.

To limit the damage, the respective district administrations have now sprung into action.

“We have set up 14 flood relief posts in areas susceptible to flooding. These posts are coordinating with the district administration to provide relief to people in affected villages,” said district magistrate of Pilibhit Dr Akhilesh Mishra.

The district administration is also setting up relief camps where inhabitants would be provided food, shelter and medical care, he said.

“The state disaster management team has also been pressed into service for the relief work. Teams are working in tandem with other departments. Additional personnel can also be called in if the need is felt, but so far, the situation is being handled well by our staff,” said the DM.

Major rivers flowing above danger mark

Major rivers, including Ganga, Ram Ganga, Sharda, Ghagra and Kuwano, were flowing above the danger mark on Tuesday, according to the Flood Management Information System Centre (FMISC).

River Sharda in Palia, Lakihmpur was recorded to be flowing 1.26m above the danger mark. Rivers Ghagra in Barabanki and Ram Ganga in Moradabad were recorded to be flowing 0.8m and 0.5m above the danger mark respectively. Water level in Ganga at Kachala in Badaun was recorded as 0.1m above the danger mark.