Lucknow, August 19: The flood situation in Uttar Pradesh is currently stable and under control. However, due to rising river levels and forecasts of potential flooding, the government has fully activated its relief and rescue operations.
Relief Commissioner Dr. Hrishikesh Yashod reviewed the flood-affected areas on Tuesday. He instructed district officials to ensure the safe evacuation of affected individuals, arrange food and medical supplies, and guarantee the availability of relief materials.
The Relief Commissioner emphasized the need to keep flood monitoring stations fully operational. Continuous observation of river water levels and conditions is essential. Sufficient boats, motorboats, rescue teams, and other resources must be available in affected areas, prioritizing the safety of lives and property.
As of now, 173 villages across 13 districts, including Badaun, Bahraich, Ballia, Barabanki, Bijnor, Farrukhabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Gonda, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Muzaffarnagar, Sitapur, and Unnao, have been impacted by flooding. Approximately 13,058 hectares of land and 84,362 people are affected.
The administration has set up 1,263 flood relief shelters, with 41 currently in use housing 1,045 individuals. So far, 4,845 people have been safely evacuated from flood-affected areas. There are 1,589 active flood monitoring stations, along with 428 boats and motorboats, and 1,101 local divers engaged in rescue operations.
According to the Relief Commissioner, 15,238 food relief packets and 30,316 lunch packets have been distributed among affected individuals. Flooding has damaged 94 houses, with assistance already provided for 65 of them. Additionally, 669 relief meetings have been organized, and 12,487 disaster friends have been trained as first responders.
Efforts to maintain livestock health and services in affected areas are ongoing. So far, 6,067 animals have been affected. For these animals, 208 quintals of fodder have been distributed, while treatment has been provided to 11,465 sick animals, and 404,036 animals have been vaccinated. To ensure clean drinking water, 43,612 chlorine tablets and 23,476 ORS packets have been distributed.
In the affected districts, 724 medical teams and 534 ambulances are available. To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, larvicides have been sprayed in 1,468 villages. A total of 19,406 individuals have received treatment, and 566 people have been provided with anti-snake venom.
For emergency response, 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed across the state. Additionally, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been stationed in several districts, with two teams in Lucknow. The deployment of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been initiated in 52 districts due to the flood situation.
The Relief Commissioner stated that, following the Chief Minister‘s directives, continuous coordination with district officials is being maintained to monitor flood-related activities. The control room at the Relief Commissioner’s office is in constant contact with affected districts, and immediate action is being taken on complaints and information received at 1070.
To review flood management preparations and inter-departmental coordination, a joint team from the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and the United Nations Development Programme conducted on-ground inspections in six districts, including Basti, Siddharthnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau, and Ballia.
The team met with commissioners, district magistrates, and relevant officials to assess preparations. They inspected flood shelters, model flood shelters, relief kits, and the deployment of rescue teams in affected villages.
To ensure timely dissemination of weather warnings to the public, 1,40,52,16,262 SMS alerts have been sent between August 1 and August 18. Information on disaster prevention and safety measures is also being continuously shared via social media.
According to the Relief Commissioner’s office, posts made on social media over the past month have reached approximately 2.5 million people. The Ghaghra River near Elgin Bridge in Barabanki is flowing above the danger mark. In Badaun, the water level at Kachla Bridge and in Farrukhabad at Fatehgarh is at the danger mark. The water levels of the Sharda River in Lakhimpur Kheri and the Ghaghra River in Ayodhya and Ballia are also near danger levels.
The Relief Commissioner noted that predictions of flooding are being made for the Ganges at Dharmanagari, Garhmukteshwar, Kachla Bridge, Fatehgarh, and Ankin Ghat, as well as for the Rehand Dam, Ban Sagar Dam, and Ghaghra River in Kushinagar.
He assured that the government and district administration are closely monitoring the flood situation. All relevant departments have been instructed to coordinate effectively for relief and rescue operations and to ensure immediate action in any emergency situation.
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