While Kerala is still trying to get back on its feet after facing massive devastation due to floods, Uttar Pradesh is not too far behind.
According to reports, an estimated 300 villages in the north-western part of the state have been cut off from their respective district headquarters. Rising river levels following heavy rain over the past few days has thrown life out of gear.
Most of these villages fall in districts Moradabad, Sambhal, Amroha, Rampur, Pilibhit and areas of Lakhimpur Kheri bordering Nepal.
"My house is submerged in nine feet of water. All our belongings have been destroyed. Somehow, we managed to leave the village," said Mansoor Khan of Khaddar area in Amroha - among the worst hit districts. Mansoor told Hindustan Times that he and his family of five were staying with their relatives in Amroha city.
Reports suggest that in Moradabad district, at least 53 villages falling under the Sadar area have been cut off from the district headquarters, as the connecting roads are flooded. "Some villages in Thakurdwar, Kanth and Bilari have been affected by the rising water level in river Ram Ganga that passes through the district," said Rakesh Kumar, district magistrate of Moradabad.
Likewise, the swelling Sharda, which passes through parts of Pilibhit and Lakhimpur Kheri, has caused flooding in low-lying areas. In Pilibhit, around 40 villages located in northern and eastern parts of the district have been isolated from the district headquarters. The districts are also still to assess and compile the damage caused by flooding.
At least nine people have lost their lives in flood-related accidents. Flood waters have also submerged swathes of farmland, with several hectares of land near river banks being eroded due to the strong current.
To limit the damage, the respective district administrations have now sprung into action. "We have set up 14 flood relief posts in areas susceptible to flooding. These posts are coordinating with the district administration to provide relief to people in affected villages," said district magistrate of Pilibhit Dr Akhilesh Mishra. The district administration is also setting up relief camps where inhabitants would be provided food, shelter and medical care, he added.
