Ganga crosses danger mark as UP floods worsen, 3.53 lakh affected in 26 districts

The rising water has inundated the Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats, disrupting cremations. The administration has said 13 flood-relief camps are housing 935 people from 219 affected families, with food, drinking water, bedding and medical facilities being provided.

In Ballia, 48 villages have been affected as the Ganga and Ghaghra rivers continue to flow above their respective danger levels, District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh said.

Chitrakoot hit hard

Scores of villages in Chitrakoot district have been flooded due to a sudden surge in the Mandakini river, prompting authorities to evacuate residents to safer locations, officials said.

The river’s water level in the district bordering Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday was 129.2 meters.

At least 14,000 residents in 36 villages of the district have been affected by the floods, it is learnt. Of these, 19 villages are in Karwi tehsil, 10 villages in Manikpur and seven villages in Rajapur tehsil.

Floodwaters entered houses and shops in several areas, forcing residents to move to higher ground. In places where roads have been submerged and vehicles can no longer move, boats are being used to evacuate residents and transport them to safer locations.

Commuters wade through a waterlogged road following rainfall, in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday. (PTI)

Authorities continue to monitor the flood situation while rescue and relief operations remain underway. The administration is also distributing cooked food packets and ration kits to the affected people. People requiring medical attention were also examined and provided necessary treatment.

Besides the local administration and police, teams of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), NDRF and SDRF have been deployed for flood relief. Using motorboats, the teams are reaching stranded residents to provide help.

Officials said nearly 500 houses suffered partial damage due to the floods and the process to provide compensation in 205 such cases has been initiated, officials said. The money is being transferred directly into the bank accounts of those affected, they said, adding payments in the remaining cases will also be expedited.

The families whose houses were completely destroyed would be provided accommodation under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme.

Chitrakoot District Magistrate Pulkit Garg said the Mandakini water level was being monitored closely and officials had been directed to ensure there is no delay in relief material delivery, uploading details of eligible beneficiaries and processing compensation claims.

Ayodhya, Varanasi among flood-hit districts

A child being rescued from a flooded house in Chitrakoot. (Express photo)

The affected districts include Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Unnao and Varanasi, among others.

At least 742 flood-relief posts have been set up in the affected districts, while 452 boats and motorboats and 225 medical teams are engaged in rescue and relief work.

Also, 105 relief centres have been made operational to provide shelter to 2,460 people with arrangements for food, medicines and other essential supplies, officials said.

The administration has also made arrangements to protect livestock, supplying around 310 quintals of fodder in affected areas, they added.

(With PTI inputs)