Over 12 east UP districts on alert after heavy rain warning

: Over 12 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) closer to Nepal border have been put on alert after Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of heavy to very heavy monsoon rains over the next 24 hours

: Over 12 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) closer to Nepal border have been put on alert after Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of heavy to very heavy monsoon rains over the next 24 hours.

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The districts for which alert has been issued, include Bahraich, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Gonda, Ballia and Mau along with some parts of adjoining districts.

“Officials of the district administration in these districts have been asked to remain alert and make arrangements to minimise damage likely to be caused due to heavy rainfall. Members of districts and state disaster management committees have been kept in standby in the districts,” said director IMD JP Gupta. “We are closely monitoring the weather conditions in the area and communicating with district authorities of these identified districts on an hourly basis,” he added.

Located close to foothills of the Himalayan range these districts are prone to flooding in rains and due to this relief outposts have been set up in all these districts to monitor river water levels and provide assistance to the needy.

District magistrate of Shravasti TK Shibu said, “We have set up around 40 flood relief outposts in the low-lying areas of the districts. “People of districts disaster management committee are stationed in these outposts. They have inflatable boats, dry rations and communication equipment with them,” he said.

The region has recorded more than 23mm rainfall this month which is 20% above normal, officials said.

Rest of the state too is expected to have more rains in coming days as monsoon progresses. UP recorded average rainfall of 7mm across the state on Tuesday while Lucknow and nearby districts remained comparatively dry with less than 2 mm rainfall. The maximum temperature in Lucknow was recorded at 30 degrees Celsius. The MeT department has issued similar forecast for Lucknow on Wednesday.