Flood threat looms on UP-Nepal border

The threat of flood looms over the districts located on the UP- Nepal border as incessant rainfall in the Himalayan nation has led to an increase in the water level of the rivers Sharda, Ghaghra and the Rapti.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, the Sharda has inundated 130 villages and the district administration has started shifting marooned people to safe places. The flood has affected 70,000 people and 1040 people have already shifted, a district administration officer said.

In Sitapur district, 50 villages have been marooned. The district administration has pressed in boats for the transportation of the villagers.

The Ghaghra has flooded 10 villages in Barabanki and three villages have been marooned in Gonda district.

Flood has affected 6400 people in Barabanki and standing crop over 2000 hectare land has been submerged.

An irrigation department officer said, “We are monitoring the situation at sensitive spots. Except at a few spots, the rivers were flowing below the danger level.” The Sharda was flowing above the danger mark at Paliyakala in Lakhimpur Kheri district. In Bahraich, Balrampur and Siddharthnagar districts the rivers have eroded the villages located in the flood zone. The people residing near the riverbank have been told to vacate their house and to shift to the camps set up by the district administration.