TNN | Jul 11, 2013, 03.21 AM IST
LUCKNOW: Even as rain and thundershowers were reported from many parts of the state on Wednesday, major rivers were on the rise, flooding over 600 villages in 12 districts. Over five lakh population has been affected by the floods so far. The floods and rain-related incidents have also claimed 125 lives in the state since June 15.
Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Sharda, Ghaghra, Quano, Rapti and Budhi Rapti were flowing above the danger mark in several districts. Army, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) personnel have been pressed into service for rescue operations and to evacuate people and livestock to safer places.
Lakhimpur Kheri is worst hit where 134 villages are flooded followed by Bijnore where 125 villages are inundated. Similarly, the flood has hit 90 villages in Farrukhabad, 77 in Muzaffarnagar, 52 in Barabanki, 32 in Sitapur, 17 in Aligarh, 16 in Badaun, 10 each in Bahraich and Hapur, eight in Faizabad and one in Shahjahanpur.
Besides rains in UP, downpour in Uttarakhand and Nepal and release of water by upstream dams and barrages have also caused floods in UP rivers. The maximum rains since Tuesday was recorded in Bahraich (89.2 mm), Kushinagar (80.8mm) and Gorakhpur (68.4 mm) followed by Maharajganj (60.4 mm) and Siddharthanagar (55.4 mm).
Sharda has been overflowing in Lakhimpur Kheri and Ghaghra in Bahriach, Barabanki, Ballia and Faizabad. Ganga was flowing above the danger mark in Fatehgarh and was rising in Bijnore, Kannauj and Kanpur. Ramganga crossed danger mark in Shahjahanpur. Yamuna was flowing above the red mark in Mathura and was in spate in Baghpat and Banda. Gomati was rising in Sitapur, Budhi Rapti in Siddharthanagar and Rapti in Bahriach, Shrivasti, Balrampur and Sant Kabirnagar. Quano has flooded low lying areas in Gonda, Basti and Sant Kabirnagar.
Opposition parties have described flood relief measures taken by teh SP government as insufficient. The BJP and BSP have called upon their workers to provide help to people in flood affected areas.