Flood Fury in North India: Dozens Killed, Lakhs Affected

28 people have died in Uttar Pradesh due to floods so far and more than a thousand villages have been affected in several districts including Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Lakhimpur, Barabanki, Sitapur and Faizabad. The situation is alarming in Balrampur and Barabanki districts where lakhs have been displaced. (Read: Monsoon Floods Hit North India, 200 Villages Under Water)

"A total of nine districts have been affected by this. Two tahsils of Bahraich are badly affected with 202 villages damaged and 14 deaths have been confirmed," said Alok Ranjan, Chief Secretary, UP government.

With rivers in Uttar Pradesh in spate after barrages in Nepal released excess water following floods there, the Centre has issued an "unprecedented flood situation" warning for the Rapti, which is flowing above the danger mark.

In West Bengal, the Cooch Behar district is the worst affected. Most of the rivers are in spate and Jaldhaka and Gadadhar are flowing much above the danger level.

In neighbouring Bihar, nine districts have been hit by floods. Two people have been killed and around four lakh have been affected.

Around 38,000 people have been evacuated so far and 75 relief camps have been set up in the affected districts. Darbhanga, Nalanda, West Champaran and Patna are some of the worst hit districts in the state.

Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, three people were washed away by strong water currents as rain caused havoc in the Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur districts last night, triggering landslides and disrupting traffic.

So far, the flash floods have claimed 11 lives in Himachal Pradesh. According to the meteorological department, rain fury is likely to continue for another week.

For rescue and relief operations as many as 12 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Bihar and four in Uttar Pradesh.

Three helicopters have been kept on standby to help rescue the marooned people in Bihar and two helicopters have been placed at the disposal of the state government in Uttar Pradesh.