As many as five districts of Uttar Pradesh are facing flood-like situation following the incessant rains across east Uttar Pradesh and the the surrounding region. While Ballia, Ghazipur, Auraiyya, Jalaun and Hamirpur have been affected by the flood, Varanasi and Allahabad also witnessed waterlogging.
Thousands affected as water levels rise
Water levels in the Ganga, Yamuna, Betwa, Chambal, Ghagra and Sharda rivers have been rising above the danger mark at various places. As River Ganga breach the danger level of 71.26 m in Varanasi, authorities have intensified the rescue operations across the district.
Ballia District Magistrate Bhawani Singh Khangarot said: "About seven villages with a population of 15,000 have directly been affected. The Ganga is rising at a rate of 1 cm per hour. The affected villagers have been evacuated". He confirmed that rescue teams had reached the affected areas and a National Disaster Response Force team has also arrived.
Central Water Commission has reported that districts along the course of Chambal and the downstream Yamuna are affected by the rising water levels. Flooding was also reported in River Ganga from Allahabad to Ballia and River Ghaghra from Barabanki to Ballia.
According to the latest report by the flood control unit of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, Yamuna is flowing at 2.82 metres above the danger level in Auraiyya district and 2.31 metres above the danger level in Kalpi area of Jalaun district. The river is 1.7 metres above the danger mark in Hamirpur district of Bundelkhand region.
More Rains forecast
Monsoon remained active over east Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday with places like Bahraich recording over 180 mm rainfall. An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over Uttar Pradesh, while a trough in westerlies also extends from Jammu and Kashmir to southwest Uttar Pradesh. Owing to these weather instabilities, east Uttar Pradesh is very likely to witness fairly widespread rainfall till Saturday. The regional met centre has issued a yellow watch to the region forecasting heavy rain in isolated places till Friday.
Lucknow also witnessed a few spells of moderate rainfall this week. On Wednesday, the capital city recorded 15 mm of rain. Uttar Pradesh is reeling under a substantial monsoon deficit of 21%. The deficit in the eastern region has dropped to 16%, thanks to the recent spell of monsoon rains. The western sub-division, however, is still experiencing a deficit of 30%.
(with inputs from IANS)
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