After a specter of drought that loomed large over state, incessant rains in the hills for the last few days have inundated rivers in Uttar Pradesh with rising Ram Ganga and Ghagra posing threat to Moradabad and Gonda districts respectively.
Floods in Pilibhit district too turned critical after Uttarakhand government released 2.80 lakh cusec of water from Banbasa dam on Saturday. Several lower areas have been submerged by rivers flowing in the districts, official spokesman said.
A report from Moradabad said rising water of Ram Ganga has threatened the district and the city itself. Part of National Highway-74 connecting Moradabad and Nainital has been washed away while at least two dozen villages were submerged due to overflowing Ram Ganga river.
The flood situation has turned critical after heavy rainfalls in the upper regions of Uttarakhand, officials said. They said NH-76 has been blocked and vehicles were being diverted through alternative routes.
Sources said the situation might aggravate in coming days as Ram Ganga is still rising and people of the lower terrains. Another report from Gonda said that flood situation aggravated after Ghagra river started rising and had submerged several villagers in the lower areas. More than 10,000 people have been affected so far in the floods in the state, officials here maintained.
In Badaun the rising water of Ganga had disrupted CBI’s attempt to exhue bodies of two cousins who were gang raped and killed. Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan has issued orders to all the district officials facing floods to evacuate people around the river. “Where need be relief camps should be set up,” he said in an order.