The death toll in Uttar Pradesh floods have mounted to 63 with reports of 15 more deaths in the state where several rivers breached their embankments, making the situation grim in flood-affected areas. While eight persons died in Bahraich district, three each in Shravasti and Balrampur and one in Lakhimpur were killed due to flood-related incidents in past 24 hours taking the toll to 63, official sources said.State Irrigation Minister Shivpal Yadav yesterday made an aerial survey in flood-affected areas in Bahraich, Shravasti and Balrampur districts and has issued directives to the officials. More than three lakh population in 1,206 hamlets of 220 villages were affected due to flood in Bahraich district where relief and rescue work is being carried out by NDRF, PAC, SSB, police, revenue employees and voluntary organisations In Shravasti, around 60,000 people in more than 100 villages are affected due to floods, of whom more than 28,000 people have been moved to safe places, official sources said. According to a report from Lakhimpur, the affect of the flood continues in Nighasan teshil due to Mohana river and in Dhaurahra tehsil due to Ghaghra river. Though the water has receded, it is posing a threat of a breach alongside the river at a number of places.
Sub divisional magistrate, Dhaurahra, Nagendra Singh said following the possibility of a breach, NDRF, PAC and steamers have been deployed.Our correspondent quoting sources reports that river Ghaghra is now wreaking havoc in Azamgarh where around 60,000 people in 80 villages of Sagdi tehsil were affected by the flood. According to a report from Balrampur district, water has receded in Tulsipur and Balrampur tehsils, but was increasing in Utraula.Balrampur-Tulsipur and Balrampur-Utraula routes have been closed. Report from Barabanki said that 95,000 people were affected in 118 villages of different tehsils. Ghaghra was still flowing more than one meter above the danger mark at Elgin Bridge in Barabanki. In the wake of increasing pressure on checkdams, directives have been issued for regular patrolling for the safety of families.
