Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), August 3 (ANI): Flooding of several villages in Gorakhpur region of Uttar Pradesh has brought life to a standstill in the region.
Though the rains have subsided, the rivers are flowing above the danger mark and have flooded the nearby villages.
The floodwaters have cut off hundreds of villages in the region.
According to provincial authorities, 311 villages have been inundated and around 21 lives have been lost in the floods.
Villagers complain the floods have left them helpless as all of their belongings have been damaged by floodwater and the fear of snakes and other reptiles, which frequent the floodwaters, is also adding onto their woes.
"My house has been flooded with water, though the water has cleared a bit, the garbage is still left behind. There is no food to feed the children. We are facing a lot of trouble. There are a lot of mosquitoes as well, which trouble us a lot. Then the fear of snakes also does not let us sleep in peace. We have no means to medicine and also our provisions have been washed away in the floods," said Susheela, a resident.
The standing water has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which has become a menace for the villagers, and is posing a big problem. The villagers also lament apathy on the part of government in coming to their aid.
"There is water everywhere. We are facing a lot of problem. Five-six people have also been bitten by snake and are in a critical condition. All our belongings have been washed away in the floodwaters. The government is not coming to our aid and is not helping us in any way," said Shyam, another resident.
The provincial authorities however claim all necessary steps are being taken to provide relief to the villagers.
A total of 650 boats have been commissioned by the authorities to ferry the villagers. The authorities are also providing relief material like food grains, matchsticks, kerosene and other basic amenities.
"We are providing immediate relief to the villagers. We are supplying them with food. Our medical teams are also regularly patrolling the areas to keep a check on the villagers as there is a fear of outbreak of diseases," said Ranjeet Singh Pankaj, District Magistrate, Gorakhpur.
Five rivers in the region, Sharda, Ghagra, Rapti, Budhi Rapti and Kuano have crossed the red mark and are flowing above the danger level.
Every year, monsoon rains leave a trail of death and destruction across India, yet much of the economy of a largely agricultural region depends on the monsoon. (ANI)
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