This Article is From Aug 12, 2021

More Than 1,200 Villages Battle Flood Fury In UP, 59 Rescue Teams On Duty

UP Floods: Rescue teams are deployed in several parts of the state.

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India News Reported by , Edited by
Lucknow:

More than 1,200 villages, which collectively have a population of over 5.4 lakh, have been affected by flood fury in Uttar Pradesh. Mirzapur has the highest number of flood-hit villages in the state (404), followed by Prayagraj (169) and Jalaun. 

Officials said water-levels in Ganga are above the danger-mark in seven places and Yamuna is flowing about the danger levels in five places. Betwa and Chambal are also flowing above the danger-mark in some parts of the state. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a stock of the situation in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, and assured all help to the officials.

The state government has set up over 950 shelters so far. Fifty-nine rescue teams are deployed in 45 districts. The NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) are carrying out relief operations. 

Of the state's 75 districts, 23 are battling floods. Houses are partially submerged in parts of Prayagraj that has, according to officials, received "12 times excess rain" in the last 24 hours.

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Visuals captured locals' plight in several parts of the state as their daily lives are heavily impacted. "Eleven districts including Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Basti, Gonda, Sultanpur, Shrawasti, Lucknow, Raebareli and Fatehpur received rainfall of over 25 mm or more in the past 24 hours," officials said.

In Varanasi, cremations were shifted to rooftops because of the flooding at the iconic Ganga ghats.

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The Prime Minister on Wednesday had a detailed conversation with the Varanasi administration about the situation, and he assured the local administration of all help.

In southern UP, Hamirpur, Banda and Jalaun districts are the worst-hit while 67 villages in central UP's Etawah are caught in the aftermath.

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) had deployed three helicopters for flood relief operations in the Jalaun district.

On Monday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited Etawah to distribute relief material; he also held a meeting with officials. He also conducted an aerial survey to take a stock of the situation.

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The state government has set up over 800 shelters, officials said earlier this week.

Madhya Pradesh and Bihar are among other flood-hit states.

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