As Garra river swells, district hospital vacated and relief camps set up amid flooding in UP’s Shahjahanpur

After floodwater entered several wards of the district hospital, the administration began relocating patients.
“Since water had entered the hospital premises, we had to vacate the entire building,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar, principal of Autonomous Medical College, Shahjahanpur, under which the district hospital functions.

He explained that some patients were shifted to a nearby private medical college, while others were moved to different Community Health Centres across the district. “To ensure proper care, specialist doctors are being deployed at the CHCs. In one of the centres, we are also running an emergency unit. Patients who were fit for discharge have already been sent home,” Dr Kumar added.

Dr Kumar further said that the water level had started receding, bringing some relief to the affected areas, and expressed hope that the situation would return to normal soon.

According to officials, four tehsils comprising 117 villages have been affected by the floods. The administration has made arrangements for more than 8,000 residents from these affected villages, spread across nearly 515 hectares of land. To provide shelter and support, 17 relief camps have been set up, where around 755 people are currently staying.

For transportation and evacuation, the administration has deployed 36 boats and 18 motorboats to assist the public. In addition, teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have also been pressed into service to carry out relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas.

Dharmendra Pratap Singh, District Magistrate, Shahjahanpur, said the Garra river was flowing above the danger mark but expressed hope that the water would begin receding from Sunday afternoon, adding that the water level was expected to decrease significantly within the next 24 hours.

The district magistrate said six PET centres had to be relocated to ensure that the examination, conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC), could be held without disruption.

The administration has urged residents to secure their belongings and assured them that they can seek help at the rescue centres being operated by the district authorities. These centres have been set up with proper arrangements for food and temporary shelter to accommodate affected families.

Helpline numbers have been issued by the administration, which residents can contact for any additional assistance or in case of emergencies.

Arvind Kumar, Additional District Magistrate, Shahjahanpur, said the Garra water level began rising on Friday and by Saturday, it had inundated several areas of the district. He added that the water level had started to recede. Vehicle movement in waterlogged areas has been restricted to ensure public safety.

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