Flood Crisis in Uttar Pradesh Leaves 3 Dead, Forces 16,000 to Evacuate

Flood conditions continued to affect several parts of Uttar Pradesh, with 23 districts currently reporting the impact of rising water levels. According to officials, a total of 16,784 people have been evacuated to safer locations so far, including 3,042 people who were rescued on Wednesday. The flooding has affected 35 districts at different stages, while authorities continue to monitor vulnerable areas and carry out rescue and relief operations.

Three people have died in separate rain-related incidents. The victims were identified as 18-month-old Priyansh from Pratapgarh and Shera, 32, and Suresh, 55, from Gajraula in Amroha district. The state government has deployed 1,499 boats and motorboats for rescue and relief work, while 1,067 medical teams have been mobilised to provide healthcare assistance in affected areas.

The districts currently affected include Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Chandauli, Farrukhabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Pilibhit, Prayagraj, Raebareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Unnao and Varanasi. Authorities have established 1,311 flood shelters across the state, of which 201 were operational at the latest update. Relief agencies have also assisted in 442 cases involving damaged houses, while floods have affected 36,287 livestock.

In Chitrakoot, around 150 people were rescued from Chaura village along the Mandakini river with the assistance of motorboats operated by the 42nd Battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary. Following the evacuation, the affected residents were provided with food, relief materials and medical assistance. Ballia has also witnessed significant disruption as the Ganga and Saryu rivers continued to rise. Around 20,500 people in the district have been affected, prompting authorities to deploy 83 boats. Officials said 6,500 ration kits, 33,843 medicine kits and 83,092 packets of cooked food have been distributed among residents. In addition, 16,629 livestock have been vaccinated and 965 quintals of fodder supplied. Flood posts, NDRF personnel and PAC teams have been deployed, while relief shelters and community kitchens have been established at Gopalnagar Tadi and Bhojpurwa.

The situation in Pilibhit has also remained under close watch as the Sharda, Deoha and Khakra rivers recorded rising water levels. More than two lakh cusecs of water was released from Banbasa into the Sharda river, while over 30,000 cusecs was released from Nanak Sagar into the Deoha. As a precaution, classes from 1 to 8 have been suspended. The submergence of the Khakra bridge has also affected connectivity to around 18 villages, while residents living in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer locations.

At the 200-bed medical college in Pilibhit, the main electricity supply remained disrupted for more than 34 hours after rainwater entered an underground cable box. Generators were being used to maintain essential services at the facility. In Lakhimpur Kheri, District Magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh inspected the Girija barrage afflux bund and areas affected by erosion along the Mohana river. Officials said round-the-clock efforts were underway to address the situation, while around a dozen houses located in submerged areas were being shifted to safer locations. The Sharda river at Palia was recorded 35 cm above its danger mark of 154.59 metres and remained steady. Agricultural fields and village approach roads were inundated, although officials said no village had been completely submerged.

Relief distribution has been intensified across the flood-affected districts. Authorities said 68,953 foodgrain packets and more than 3.36 lakh lunch packets have been distributed, along with over 5.02 lakh chlorine tablets and more than 1.77 lakh ORS packets to help protect residents from water-borne diseases. Earlier, the administration had reported distributing 1,640 foodgrain packets, 16,190 lunch packets, more than 18,000 chlorine packets and over 7,000 ORS packets.

Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious and follow instructions issued by local officials. In Ghaziabad, a yellow alert remains in effect until September 4, with people advised to exercise caution during heavy rainfall and avoid waterlogged areas. As river levels continue to fluctuate across parts of Uttar Pradesh, rescue teams, medical personnel and relief agencies remain deployed in affected districts. Officials are continuing to monitor rivers, embankments and low-lying settlements while efforts remain focused on evacuating vulnerable residents and ensuring essential supplies reach those affected by the floods.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.