Millions displaced in flood-hit Northern, Eastern States

Millions of people have been marooned across Northern and Eastern India in the worst floods of the decade caused due to incessant monsoon rains.

Patna / Gorakhpur (UP), Aug 2 : Millions of people have been marooned across Northern and Eastern India in the worst floods of the decade caused due to incessant monsoon rains.

With major rivers flowing above the danger mark across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam, around 5.5 million people have been affected by the flooding.

According to a Central Water Commission report in Guwahati, the Brahmaputra River and most of its tributaries, except Beki, Kopili and Kushiara, are receding even though the water levels are still above the danger mark.

More than 44 hundred thousand people in 24 districts of Assam have been affected by floods.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu made an aerial survey of the flood affected areas in the State. He assured an assistance of ten lakh rupees for rehabilitation of new Chilatoo village.

In Bihar, the flood situation worsened with swollen Kareh breaching its embankment and inundating vast areas of Samastipur, Darbhanga and Begusaral districts.

The administration has ordered the closure of all schools in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Begusarai till August 15.

Tens of thousands of plastic and tarpaulin tents have sprung up in the region to shelter the displaced.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav conducted an aerial survey of Bihar.

Lalu assailed the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar of failing to provide adequate relief to the affected people.

"The government has failed, but we have not failed, the people of Bihar have not failed. We are appealing to the masses to help the flood affected people. Our party is prepared to help the flood affected people," Lalu said.

Lalu said he will apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi about the devastation caused by floods in North Bihar districts.

All major rivers in eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh are in spate. Ghaghra, Rapti and Rohin rivers are flowing above danger mark all along their course.

Hundreds of villages were submerged in Gorakhpur District of Uttar Pradesh after the three rivers bordering Nepal broke their embankments.

Hundreds have been killed over the past nine days by drowning, snakebites and house collapses.

The state's the worst affected Gorakhpur and Khushinagar districts have been cut off from the rest of the State.

Most villagers have lost their household goods with rain water submerging houses and destroying food stocks.

"There was water everywhere in the house. We just managed to get away and save our lives. All our rations were swept away. We lost everything," said Rajkumari, a flood victim.

The crops have been destroyed due to incessant rains over the past week.

"All fields have also been flooded. Now everyone has set up makeshift tents on the bridge and in nearby villages," said Purushottam Kumar Rawat, another victim.

Officials said they have been working round the clock to ensure relief to the affected people.

"There are about 156 villages that have been affected, out of which 55 villages have been flooded. More than 100 rescue boats have been sent to evacuate people. More relief work is in progress," said Rajiv Kumar, Gorakhpur District Commissioner.

The water level in the Saryu River in the State is said to be rising by the day. Most of the nearby villages face the threat of being submerged.

Army has been asked to standby and more para-military forces have been requisitioned from other districts to carry out relief operations.

In Uttarakhand, the pilgrimage to Badrinath, Hemkund and Yamunotri was disrupted following landslides at a number of places triggered by heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the national capital New Delhi witnessed heavy showers from Wednesday night.

The city is completely water logged creating traffic jams for long distances. City Commuters are having a tough time getting to their places of work.

ANI