Lucknow:Major rivers in Uttar Pradesh including Gomti, Sharda, and Kuwano are in spate following torrential rains across the state, officials said Thursday. Some of the rivers have crossed the danger mark at various points.

Gomti river was flowing 0.74 metre above the danger mark in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. In Lucknow, Gomti is just 0.69 metre below the danger mark, officials added.

"We are constantly recording the rise in the river in order to evict the localities that would be affected by floods," Sultanpur additional district magistrate Akhilesh Tiwari told IANS.

Likewise, the Sharda river in Lakhimpur district is flowing 0.18 metres above the danger mark, officials said.

Following heavy rains, the Ghagra river is also flowing above the danger mark in three districts, Barabanki, Faizabad and Ballia, they added.

"As per our records, the Ghagra was flowing 0.21 metres above the danger mark in Barabanki district and 0.65 metres above the danger mark in Ballia district," an official with the state irrigation department told IANS.

In Faizabad, the Ghagra was flowing 0.5 metres above the danger mark, he added.

According to the state irrigation department officials, rivers, including Rapti, Gandak, Rohini and Yamuna are expected to cross the danger mark any moment.

Continuing heavy rainfall in the river basin area and the foothills of the Himalayas are the main reasons for the spate in rivers, officials added.

According to official records, a staggering 721 lives have been lost on account of rains and floods in the state since June 1.

Meanwhile, large scale relief operations were underway to provide some respite to the nearly two million population across 21 flood affected districts of the state. The state has 70 districts.

 

Source : IANS