19 more die in flood-hit parts of UP, death toll crosses 80

Flood situation remained grim in Uttar Pradesh where the toll rose to 82 today with reports of 19 more deaths even as authorities feared outbreak of disease in the worst affected eastern parts of the state.

About 8.6 lakh people in 1,037 villages spread over several districts are reeling under the impact of floods caused by rivers crossing the danger mark at many places.

Six persons died in flood-related incidents in Balrampur district, four in Sitapur, three in Bahraich, two deaths each took place in Barabanki and Ballia districts, one each were reported from Gonda and Lakhimpur Khiri in the past 24 hours, official sources said.

According to a report from Relief Commissioner's office, the worst affected districts were Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Barabanki, Lakhimpur Khiri, Sitapur, Faizabad, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Azamgarh, Muzaffarnagar and Siddharth Nagar.

Authorities feared outbreak of disease in these districts and geared up the machinery to tackle the post-flood situation.

In Bahraich district alone, over four lakh people in 227 villages were affected and relief and rescue work was being carried out by NDRF, PAC, SSB, police, revenue employees and voluntary organisations, a report from the district said.

District Magistrate Satyendra Singh said that with three more deaths, toll has gone up to 32 in the district.

He said financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh has been given to kin of the victims and two IAF helicopters were assisting in relief and rescue work.

In Shravasti district, around one lakh people in over 144 villages are affected and crop on 8,000 hectare area has been destroyed.

Special teams have been constituted to assess loss of lives, property and animals.
According to report from Balrampur district, several villages have been marooned in Tulsipur, Utraula and Balrampur tehsils, even though water has started receding.

A report from Siddharth Nagar district said that 1.39 lakh cusec water was released from Rapti dam on Nepal borde in Shravasti district as a result Rapti, which was already swelling, was flowing five-feet above the danger mark.

Rapti's water was overflowing in the Budhi Rapti river due to which around 12 villages have been marooned.

According to a report from Barabanki district, two more persons died in flood-related incidents. The Ghaghra river was flowing more than one metre above the danger mark at Elgin Bridge.

Around 80,000 people in 100 villages in Ramnagar, Sirauli Gauspur and Ramsnehighat tehsils were affected.

Breach was reported at four places in Ranipur-Alinagar embankment in Bahlolpur after which District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra rushed to the spot to supervise repair work.