The flood situation continues to be grim in eastern UP. The state government on Monday declared that 21 districts were in grip of flood.
The Secretary Home Javeed Ahmad told journalists in Lucknow that flood had badly affected around 21 lakh people in these districts. While army had been deployed in Gorakhpur and Barabanki to provide relief to the victims, in other districts Flood PAC companies were on the job, Ahmad said.
"Flood has marooned 2,634 villages in 21 districts and claimed 153 lives so far", he said.
The government had taken measures to provide adequate relief to the affected the people, Ahmad said. It may be mentioned that the chief minister Mayawati has also asked the centre to provide Rs 2200 crore flood relief to the state.
Reports from Gorakhpur said that two pillars of a bridge over Aami river near Belipur caved in which disrupted traffic between Kauriram and Varanasi. However water level in Rapti has started receding. The minister for technical education Sadal Prasad visited affected areas in Gorakhpur to inspect the relief operation. The minister expressing displeasure over relief measures asked the administration to gear up the machinery.
Ganga is also rising at Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia. River Ghagra is also in spate in Mau and Ballia.
{{/usCountry}}Ganga is also rising at Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia. River Ghagra is also in spate in Mau and Ballia.
{{/usCountry}}In affected districts Shravasti, Basti, Bahraich, Barabanki, Pilibhit, Faizabad, Sidharthnagar, Maharajganj, Shahjehanpur, Barielly, Khiri, Gonda, Balrampur, Kushinagar, Unnao, Sitapur, Etah, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh and Deoria swollen rivers Rapti, Ghagra, Saryu, Sharada, Gandak and Ganga have completely derailed normal life.
At least 1.71 lakh people have been uprooted from their homes, the Home Secretary said and added 2143 boats had been pressed in service to rescue them.