LUCKNOW: More than 17,500 people have been shifted to safer locations from 26 flood-affected districts of Uttar Pradesh, with no deaths or livestock fatalities reported so far, the state government said on Friday.
According to the Relief Commissioner’s office, around 3.53 lakh people have been affected by the floods. A total of 17,544 people have been evacuated, while 4,847 are staying in relief shelters set up by the administration.
The government has established 1,312 flood shelters and deployed 1,634 flood outposts, 1,697 boats and motorboats and 1,068 medical teams across affected areas.
Relief agencies have distributed 72,897 food packets and 3,67,551 lunch packets among flood-hit residents. To prevent the spread of water-borne diseases, more than 5.52 lakh chlorine tablets and 1.87 lakh ORS packets have also been distributed.
Livestock relief measures include the supply of more than 5,000 quintals of fodder. Over 45,000 animals have been affected by the floods, but no livestock deaths have been reported, the government said.
The affected districts include Amroha, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Badaun, Ballia, Barabanki, Basti, Chandauli, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Rampur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Unnao and Varanasi.
In Chitrakoot, the Mandakini River has receded to 128 metres from its peak level of 135.20 metres recorded on August 29. However, authorities continue to monitor the situation and relief operations.
As many as 688 people have been evacuated in the district, while assistance has reached 13,906 residents across 36 affected villages. The affected areas comprise 19 villages in Karwi, seven in Rajapur and 10 in Manikpur.
The administration has distributed 28,803 lunch packets and 2,065 relief kits, while 18 flood shelters and 28 medical teams equipped with ambulances and medicines remain operational.
Flooding has partially damaged 653 houses in the district. Financial assistance totalling Rs 7.52 lakh has been transferred to 188 beneficiaries, while Rs 1.20 lakh has been paid in one case involving complete damage. Payments in other cases are under process.
A 30-member NDRF team and two SDRF teams comprising 27 personnel have been deployed in Chitrakoot. Crop-loss surveys are also being conducted to assess the impact on farmers.
In Ghazipur, a joint operation by police and the district administration rescued 12 shepherds and more than 2,000 sheep stranded on an island near Duhia Saraiya following a rise in the Ganga’s water level.
The nearly six-hour operation began after authorities received information late at night. A night-vision drone was used to locate the stranded shepherds and animals, following which PAC flood personnel, police and administrative teams, along with local boatmen, carried out the rescue. No casualties were reported.