The Hindu : Flood situation worsens further

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

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Other States - Uttar Pradesh

Flood situation worsens further

Lucknow Sept. 16. The flood situation in Uttar Pradesh worsened again today as the water levels of all the rivers began rising following heavy rainfall throughout the state in the past 24 hours, inundating fresh areas and taking the death toll over 230.

22 more deaths -- 10 in Etah, six in Mainpuri, four in Farrukkhabad and two in Lucknow -- have been reported in the past 24 hours in incidents of house collapse triggered by heavy rains, reports reaching from the districts said.

With these deaths, the death toll in this spate of floods has risen to over 230 in the state.

More than 24.64 lakh people in 4,583 villages of the state have been affected in the floods, official sources here said today. A total of 7.08 lakh hectares of land, of which 4.08 lakh hectares is agricultural land and 3.54 lakh hectares crops land, have been affected, they said. A report from Etah said 10 people were buried alive when their houses collapsed due to the rains while six others lost their lives in Mainpuri, also in house collapse.

Over 4,000 houses have collapsed due to heavy rains in Etah district so far, reports said, adding that 640 villages have been affected by the floods in the district. A total of 150 cattle heads have perished.

The total loss due to the present floods in the district has been estimated at Rs 1.82 crores, while the district authorities have so far released Rs 17.85 lakhs, the report said.

River Ganga is again rising in Ghazipur and Ballia and flowing slightly above the red mark. It is also rising at Fatehpur and Ankinghat but flowing below the danger marks, according to Central Flood Control Department sources here.

River Sai is rising at Bani and Rae Bareli and flowing slightly above the danger mark. River Sharda is also flowing little less than a metre above the red mark at Paliakala with a rising trend.

River Ghaghara is rising again but flowing below its red mark at all the places, reports said.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared 20 districts as flood-affected and has sought Central aid for relief and rescue operations.

It has also asked district authorities to prepare a detailed report to be submitted to the Centre so that a Central team can visit the state to assess the total loss. The authorities have asked District Magistrates to seek the help and assistance of the Army in the relief and rescue operations as and when felt necessary.

The state government has set up 746 relief camps and 3,694 boats have been pressed into service for evacuation of the marooned people. -- UNI

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