Uttar Pradesh, India — In an alarming development, over 200 villages across six districts in the Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh are grappling with severe floods. The affected districts include Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, Kushinagar, Balrampur, Shravasti, and Gonda. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges in the flood-affected areas are closed today.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the flood battalion of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed to conduct relief and rescue operations. In a significant move, the Indian Air Force has been called in to rescue stranded individuals in Pilibhit.
The flooding has been triggered by widespread rainfall in the river catchment areas and the release of dam water, leading to rivers in the Tarai region swelling dangerously. Shravasti is among the worst-hit areas, with over 44,000 people affected, while approximately 30,000 individuals in Lakhimpur district are also suffering due to the flood’s impact. The release of water from dams in Uttarakhand has exacerbated the situation.
In response to the crisis, the administration has set up flood posts and community kitchens to aid the affected population. Rescue operations are ongoing, but many villages remain marooned, and rail and road traffic have been disrupted.
The meteorological department has issued a warning, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the eastern part of the state over the next 24 hours, which could potentially worsen the already dire situation.
As the region braces for more rain, the efforts of the rescue teams and the resilience of the affected communities will be crucial in navigating this natural calamity.
