Lucknow, Sept. 2 -- Three people, including an 18-month-old boy, died in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday even as the state government said it has evacuated 1,528 people from flood-affected areas and deployed hundreds of boats, flood posts and medical teams for relief operations.
In a statement, the government said 32 districts have been affected by floods so far, with the situation currently prevailing in 22 districts. A total of 742 flood posts, 452 boats and motorboats and 225 medical teams were active on Tuesday, while 2,460 people were staying in 105 relief shelters.
It said Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Unnao and Varanasi were impacted by floods. In Pratapgarh, 18-month-old Priyansh died after being trapped under debris when a kutcha house collapsed amid continuous rain in Chhoti Kothariya village, police said.
In Amroha's Gajraula, two people -- Shera (32) and Suresh (55) -- were killed after the roof projection of a shop collapsed during heavy rain.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shailesh Dubey said the cause was being investigated to determine whether the structure collapsed due to rain or its dilapidated condition.
In Chitrakoot, authorities rescued around 150 people trapped by a sudden swelling of the Mandakini river in Chaura village.
The 42nd Battalion PAC's flood-relief platoon, with support from local administration, used motorboats to rescue those trapped. Food, relief material and medical assistance were also provided to the affected.
Ballia remained among the worst affected districts, with rising Ganga and Saryu waters affecting around 20,500 people in villages and urban localities of Sadar, Bairia and Bansdih tehsils. Eighty-three boats are being operated for relief and rescue.
The district administration has distributed 6,500 ration kits, 33,843 medicine kits and 83,092 packets of cooked food. It has also vaccinated 16,629 livestock and distributed 965 quintals of fodder. Flood shelters and community kitchens are functioning at Gopalnagar Tadi and Bhojpurwa.
Flood posts are active, and National Disaster Response Force and Provincial Armed Constabulary teams have been deployed. Officials and medical teams are visiting affected areas daily, while generators are being used to maintain electricity supply where required.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.