Uttar Pradesh flood toll nears 100; Centre assures help

The toll in flood-related incidents in different parts of Uttar Pradesh inched closer to 100 as the situation continued to remain grim in several eastern and central districts though the water levels of some rivers started receding.

Large tracts of land were still submerged under the water in Baharaich, Gonda, Balrampur, Shravasti, Sitapur, Gorakhpur, Basti and other districts.

Movement of trains was affected on Gonda-Mailani section of the north-eastern railway after tracks were damaged in Baharaich district by the flood waters, reports said. Railway engineers were trying to repair the damage and restore traffic.

Reports said the water levels of Ghaghra and Saryu rivers were receding but Rapti river was rising at Gorakhpur, threatening people at the low-lying areas there.

Floods have affected as many as 200 villages in Sitapur district. Seven people have so far died in flood-related incidents in Sitapur. Over a dozen districts, mostly in the eastern and central region in the state, have been facing the brunt of the floods.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the state and assured all help to the state government. Singh was accompanied by BJP MPs Yogi Adityanath, Savitir Phule and Kirti Vardhan Singh.

The minister, who had a meeting with the officials, said two National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) centres would be set-up at Varanasi and Gorakhpur to tackle the floods in eastern Uttar Pradesh region.  He also said that Gorakhpur required an AIIMS-like institution.