UP: Bahraich villages flooded as Ghaghra river rises; record rainfall inundates Bareilly
Bahraich/Bareilly (UP), Sep 7 (PTI) Floodwater from the Ghaghra river inundated villages and roads in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district after water was released from barrages upstream, prompting the administration to call in the NDRF for evacuation, while torrential rain in Bareilly submerged areas and disrupted normal life, officials said on Monday.
In Bahraich, the Ghaghra was flowing above the danger mark at the Sharda Barrage, Ghur Devi and Elgin Bridge following release of 3.788 lakh cusecs of water amid persistent rainfall.
According to the district administration, the river was 35 cm above the danger mark at Elgin Bridge, 30 cm above at Ghur Devi and 11 cm above at Sharda Barrage on Monday morning, with water levels steadily rising.
Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar said the situation was not as severe as in previous years but floodwaters had affected three hamlets in one gram panchayat in Mahsi tehsil and nine hamlets in two gram panchayats in Mihinpurwa tehsil.
"The situation is being monitored continuously. People living in riverine areas have been alerted and relief material and necessary assistance are being sent to affected areas. Flood posts have also been activated," Kumar told PTI.
Mahsi Sub-divisional Magistrate Rajesh Agrawal said officials inspected the affected hamlets of Tanch, Mahantpurwa and Jodhepurwa by boat and more boats are being deployed.
Relief material and tarpaulins are being distributed, while health department teams are providing medicines, he said. The NDRF has also been called in to help evacuate residents to safer places.
Residents said water has entered houses in several villages, forcing families to live on raised platforms and cook on cots and wooden planks. Roads and village tracks have also been submerged, while shortage of livestock fodder has become a concern.
Villagers from Janki Nagar said there are not enough boats in the area and people are forced to wade through waist-deep, fast-flowing water. They sought deployment of more boats and steamers.
In Mihinpurwa, several villages, including Sampatpurwa, Dharampur Retia, Rampur Retia, Khairipurwa, Bhainsa Budana, Tilwa Mujwa and Chahlwa, have reported waterlogging. Residents said floodwater was flowing on arterial roads, cutting off villages from the main road.
They said children are unable to attend school, people are facing difficulty reaching hospitals and livestock are without fodder.
In Bareilly, 134.3 mm rainfall was recorded in 24 hours, said to be the highest rainfall during this period in 14 years, causing widespread waterlogging across the city.
Railway tracks at Bareilly Junction were submerged, while water accumulated on tracks at City Station, affecting rail traffic and causing inconvenience to passengers. Railway authorities undertook water-draining measures amid heavy rain.
The Alakhnath temple premises are also inundated. Several government offices, including the office of the chief medical officer, police stations and power substations, are also affected.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Santosh Kumar Singh said the water level of the Ramganga river is also rising, although it remains below the danger mark. "Given the continuous rain, the situation is being monitored closely."
District Magistrate Avinash Singh inspected the Ramganga river area by boat to assess the rising water level and surrounding conditions and issued necessary directions to officials.
He also inspected flood-control and anti-erosion works being carried out near the ancient Ramganga temple in Kapoorpur village of Mirganj tehsil.
The district administration said the DM reviewed progress and quality of flood protection works on the left bank of the river and directed officials to complete them on war footing and ensure continuous monitoring of vulnerable stretches.
The city administration's drainage system came under pressure at several places, with municipal teams engaged in pumping out accumulated water from low-lying areas and residential neighbourhoods.
