Sharda, Ghaghara rivers cross danger mark

LUCKNOW: Moderate to heavy rainfall across the state has increased water level of rivers in various districts, officials said, adding that Sharda and Ghaghara rivers were flowing above the danger mark.

River Sharda has crossed danger mark in Palia Kalan (Lakhimpur Kheri) while Ghaghara is flowing above danger mark at Elgin Bridge (Barabanki). Ghaghara is also flowing above the danger mark in Ayodhya.

An irrigation department officer said the level of Rapti, Rohini, Kunahra and Gandak river was also increasing in Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar and Kushinagar districts.

The meteorological department has issued warning of heavy rainfall in Lalitpur, Jhansi, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Auraiya, Etawah, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Mahamaya Nagar, Etah, Aligarh, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar districts in the next 48 hours.

State relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar said all the district magistrates had been directed to prepare a flood action plan to identify the spots for relief camps, drinking water and medical facilities, electricity supply, arrangement of boats and purchase of edible items through e-tendering.

“DMs have been asked to strengthen communication and warning systems in flood-prone areas.

They have been directed to hold meetings with members of

voluntary organisations as well as officers of NDRF, SDRF, PAC, army and the air force to prepare a relief and rescue plan. Sanitation drives should be carried out in flood-affected areas to check outbreak of diseases,” he said.

An orientation meeting of the administrative officers of floodprone districts like Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Sitapur, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Bahraich and Kasganj was held at in Lakhimpur with IAF officers on Wednesday to discuss relief and rescue operations.

According to Met department, Orai witnessed maximum of 21 cm rainfall. Other places receiving rainfall included Agra and Mathura (15 cm each), Jalaun (14 cm), Agra (13 cm), Bareilly (11 cm), Akbarpur (Kanpur Dehat), Hamirpur and Mahrari in Lalitpur (10 cm each), Shahganj (Jaunpur), Auraiya, Baghpat, Maudaha (Hamirpur) and Khairagarh in Agra (9 cm each).