Severe flooding in Uttar Pradesh has disrupted the lives of nearly 800,000 residents across 12 districts. The swelling rivers have inundated 633 villages, leaving communities struggling to cope with the deluge.
The rising water levels have resulted in the deaths of 19 people over the past 24 hours, with incidents including lightning strikes, drowning, and snake bites.
The Relief Commissioner’s office reported extensive damage, with 1,45,779 hectares of land submerged, including 30,623 hectares of agricultural fields in districts such as Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, Balrampur, Kushinagar, Basti, Shahjahanpur, Barabanki, Sitapur, Gonda, Siddharth Nagar, and Ballia.
Authorities have mobilized the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) flood units to assist those affected.
However, they have relocated 10,040 individuals to safer areas, with an additional 1,003 seeking refuge in flood shelters.
The rivers Sharda, Rapti, Ghaghra, Budhi Rapti, and Kuwano continue to flow above the danger mark, exacerbating the situation.
Although water levels in the Sharda, Mohana, and Ghaghra rivers in Lakhimpur remained stable on Wednesday, the flood-induced hardships persist for the local population.
Severe waterlogging has forced authorities to close educational institutions in the Pallia, Nighasan, and Bijua blocks.
Additionally, train services on the Mailani-Nanpara meter-gauge track through Pallia and Bhira have been suspended until 20 July due to ongoing erosion of the railway track near Atariya crossing in Bhira.
Tragic incidents have further marred the state’s ordeal. Lightning strikes on Wednesday evening claimed the lives of six individuals, five in various parts of Chandauli and one in Sonbhadra.
Lightning strikes injured eight others, with six in Chandauli and two in Sonbhadra.
