JOIN USIt’s a double whammy for Uttar Pradesh: The state is experiencing drought and flood simultaneously.
While a large part of the state was reeling under the floods, many other areas were experiencing severe drought owing to scanty rainfall so far this year.
According to officials, sharp rise in water levels in rivers, owing to heavy rain in the neighbouring hill state of Uttarakhand and discharge of water from Nepal rivers have led to flooding in over a dozen districts, mainly in the eastern and central regions of the state.
Over a hundred people have so far died in flood-related incidents in different parts of the state. Although the flood fury is on the decline, several rivers are still flowing above the danger mark, according to official sources here.
However, irrigation department officials say the state has experienced almost 40 per cent less rainfall so far this season.
“We were expecting good rain in August, but the month has so far been the driest one,” said an official here. A Met department official said barring Shravasti, no other district in the state has received average rainfall this season.