The flood situation on Monday continued to remain grim in many parts of North India, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
In Bihar, official sources said nearly one lakh people have been affected after the swollen Gandak river breached its embankment at Simaria village in Gopalganj district on Sunday, inundating several villages under Barauli, Baikunthpur, and Singhwara blocks.
“The overflowing water of the Gandak river has entered dozens of villages and is flowing at some places on National Highway 28 that disrupted road traffic,” an official of the water resource department said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who made an aerial survey of Gopalganj and Saran districts on Monday, held a high-level meeting with government officials at Gopalganj.
The principal secretary of the disaster management department said the government decided to set up mega camps in affected areas. Official sources said five units of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in Gopalganj, two at Chapra and one at Siwan. More NDRF teams would be air-dropped in the flood-affected areas if required.
Hundreds of people have fled their homes and the State government has asked those living in low-lying areas to shift to safer places.
200 villages in U.P. inundated
More than 200 villages in Bareilly and Moradabad have been hit by floods due to incessant rain and release of water in Ramganga and Kosi rivers from Kalagarh, Naraura, Behgul, Nand Sagar and Dhaura dams. More than 10 people were killed in rain and flood-related incidents in the last few hours
Officials said Indian Air Force helicopters sent from Bareilly to carry out rescue and relief operations in Bijnore and Uttarakhand could not land due to inclement weather. Vehicular movement on NH 24 connecting Delhi with Lucknow would remain suspended till September 22, they said.
According to the Central Water Commission report, the Ramganga was swelling by 2 cm by every hour.
The district administration has directed villages in Sahaswan, Junawai, Kachla and Dataganj areas located alongside the Ganga be evicted.
Yamuna crosses danger mark
With Haryana releasing over six lakh cusecs of water, the Yamuna river crossed the danger mark to touch 205.55 meters in the national capital on Monday, posing a threat of heavy flooding in villages along the river.
People living in the low-lying areas have already been shifted to safer places and officials said the situation in Yamuna was being monitored round-the-clock.
The Haryana government has issued fresh flood alerts in Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Faridabad and Palwal districts and their deputy commissioners have been alerted to take preventive measures.
Incessant rainfall in the upper reaches of Shivalik hills and in Uttarakhand has led to heavy inflows. Officials said flood water has also entered into villages in Karnal and Yamunanagar districts and rescue work was on.
Uttarakhand rivers continue to swell
Meanwhile, most parts of Uttarakhand experienced bright sunshine, giving some relief to the region where
heavy rains in the past few days had wreaked havoc killing over 60 people and rendering thousands homeless.
However, major rivers continued to rise with the Ganga in Haridwar flowing above the danger level and
breaching its embankment at Bishanpur Kundi village inundating scores of areas like Luxor, Rayasi and Gangadaspur. NDRF personnel have already reached Haridwar for relief and rescue operations.
In Tehri, the reservoir level reached 831.05 meter and heavy discharge is being made from the 1000 MW hydel project. The construction work of 400 MW Koteshwar dam has been stopped due to rise in the water level of Bhagirathi river, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation CMD R.S.T. Sai said. A high alert has been issued in low-lying areas in Tehri.
Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank made an aerial survey of flood and disaster-affected areas in the state, officials said.
Trains cancelled
In the wake of the worsening flood situation, the Railways have cancelled some trains bound for Dehradun and Haridwar while a few others were diverted or short terminated at various stations.
The steps were taken after landslides were reported between Haridwar-Motichur sections and breaches between Raisi-Balawali on Moradabad Division, said a Northern Railway spokesperson.
Railways have started help desks in Haridwar, Dehradun and Moradabad for providing assistance to passengers affected by floods under instructions from Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, the spokesperson said.
Railways have said tickets already booked will be revalidated on the next convenient date as per the request of the passengers.
