Floods scene grim in UP, paramilitary out

LUCKNOW, SEPT 19: Para-military forces were called out yesterday after the flood situationdeteriorated in Gorakhpur, Deoria, Sidharth Naga...

LUCKNOW, SEPT 19: Para-military forces were called out yesterday after the flood situationdeteriorated in Gorakhpur, Deoria, Sidharth Nagar, Kushinagar, Maharajganjdistricts in Uttar Pradesh. So far, floods in the state have claimed the lives of 359 persons. In addition, 755 cattleheads have also perished.

Alarmed by the situation, Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta yesterday made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas. Gupta said the help of the Army and the Air Force had also been sought. Five motor boats had been sent to Deoria, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and Maharajganj, the Energy Department had been told to supply power to the flooded areas and the Irrigation Department had been told to strengthen the bunds, he said.

With breaches in the Sahjanawa-Dumaria Babu and Nausar-Kalani bunds, thesituation in Gorakhpur had become worse. Road links with Varanasi, Azamgarh and some other areas had been cut off by flood waters. Many low-lying areas of Gorakhpur town were submerged. The rising Rapti river poses a danger to the Siswan bund. Paramilitary forces are busy strengthening the bund, which, if breached, will flood the entire Gorakhpur town.

The Chief Minister directed officials to undertake relief works on a war-footing.

States Finance Minister Harishchandra Shrivastava funds allocated for relief work are as follows, Gorakhpur district had been allocated Rs 74 lakh, Shravasti, Balrampur, Sidharthnagar and Chandauli Rs 50 lakh each, Gonda Rs 70 lakh, Basti, Bahraich and Ghazipur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Sant Kabir Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ballia Rs 25 lakh each. Mirzapur has been allocated Rs 20 lakh and Jaunpur, Ravidas Nagar and Sonebhadra Rs 15 lakh each, he added.

He said so far 2037 villages of 38 districts and 40 lakh people had beenaffected by the flood fury. Floods have completely damaged 6683 houses andpartially damaged 14,402 houses, he added.

The PWD has been allocated Rs 5 crore, Urban Development Department Rs 13crore, Irrigation Department Rs 10 crore, Energy Department Rs 2crore, Animal Husbandary Department Rs 50 lakh, Village Department Rs 8.5crore and the Medical Department Rs 80 lakh to provide facilities in theflood-hit areas,the minister said.