Uttar Pradesh rivers in spate

While Ghagra river is flowing above the danger mark in Bahraich district, the water level in Sharda, Saryu and Rapti is rising in Lakhimpur Kheri, Gonda and Balrampur districts respectively.

"Officials have been instructed to step up relief activities in Bahraich's flood-prone villages, particularly under Kaiserganj and Mehsi tehsils," Additional District Magistrate Sukhlal Bharti told IANS over telephone from Bahraich, some 140 km from Lucknow.

"Operations are being carried out to take the villagers to safer places. Teams of district administration and other civic agencies are permanently camping in the flood-prone areas," he added.

Meanwhile, officials in several districts, including Sitapur, Gonda, Lakhimpur Kheri and Balrampur, have been instructed to keep a continuous vigil on the vulnerable embankments.
"Villagers from low-lying areas are being taken to higher places from security point of view," Additional District Magistrate Vivek Pandey told reporters in Gonda, where the Ghagra river is rising by two centimetres every hour.

"As far as the Saryu river is concerned, it is flowing just 12 centimetres below the danger mark," he added.

Parts of Uttar Pradesh have been witnessing heavy rains since Friday. Met officials say though the rains are likely to weaken by Tuesday, their intensity would again increase by Wednesday.