Several parts of the country have been affected by floods and heavy rain
Our Correspondents /
Several parts of India have been badly affected by floods and heavy rain. Nearly 19 lakh people in 22 districts of Assam are reeling under floods in the state. Five lakh displaced people have taken shelter at relief camps. 24 have, so far, lost their lives.
Floods have also caused massive damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Assam to take stock of the situation.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said, Railways will provide free wagons for transportation of essential commodities to the flood-affected districts of Assam.
Uttar Pradesh
All major rivers of Terai region continue to flow either above or near the danger mark due to continuous rain in upper Himalayan reaches and excess water release from barrages.
A total of 52 Tehsils of 20 districts and over 800 villages with over two lakhs persons are flood affected. Most among them include Siddharthanagar, Pilibhit, Barabanki, Basti, Kushinagar and Badaun.
In Siddharthanagar alone, over 60,000 people are reeling under floods in 189 villages.
The administration has established 41 relief camps in the affected districts.Over 5,000 persons have been brought to flood relief camps in Barabanki district alone.
Farmers of these flood affected districts are facing heavy loss as thousands of acres of their paddy and other Kharif crops have either been submerged under flood water or have been totally eroded away by the streams of bulging rivers.
Livestock in these flooded regions is also facing hardship because of acute shortage of fodder.
Bihar
There is no any improvement in the flood situation in state. 26 people have, so far, died in flood related incidents in the state. Maximum causalities have been reported from Supaul, Purnia and Kishanganj. Over 10,000 houses have collapsed.
More than20 lakh people, spread over 10 districts, are reeling under the impact of floods. Surging water of Mahananda river are spreading in Katihar, Purnia and Kishanganj following heavy rain in catchment areas of Nepal.
The flood situation in these districts continues to be grim due to spreading of water. Chief Minister Nitis Kumar has said, embankments would be constructed on river Mahananda in five phases.
Mr. Kumar said, Principal Secretary of Agriculture Department has been made Special Commissioner in Katihar to oversee relief operation.
State Government has instructed to distribute two thousand quintals of foodgrains among flood victims everyday.
Tamil Nadu
Flood alert has been issued in low lying areas near south Pennai river in Krishnagiri district. Heavy rain has hit normallife in many parts of Salem district. Chennai MeT office said, the south west monsoon has been vigorous over north Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka
Heavy rain in Karnataka has led to increased inflow of water into rivers and lakes in Krishnagiri and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu. Moreover incessant rain has been lashing parts of the state including Salem.
In Krishnagiri, South Pennai river is in spate. The Kelavarapally dam has almost reached its full capacity of 44 feet. For the safety of dam total inflow of 2320 cusecs water is being released from the dam.
Flood alerts have been issued in low lying areas near South Pennai river. Water has seeped into more than 500 houses in the district.
Heavy rain has led to flash floods in Sarabanga river in Salem district. Road bridge between Danishpettai and Kadayampatty near Omallur has been washed away by flash floods. 50 villages have been affected as road communication has been cut off.
Incessant heavy rain has crippled normal life in several parts of Bengaluru. Water logging has been reported from many areas, with a number of houses flooded.
Low-lying areas, particularly Kodichikkanahalli and Bilekahalli, were the worst affected by the flooding as water entered houses following the breach of a lake. Officials said, the Fire department deployed boats in Kodichikkanahalli to evacuate stranded people from their buildings.
Overflowing lakes and drains coupled with uprooted trees compounded woes for commuters.
Emergency service personnel were pressed into service and the control room of city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike was working round-the-clock to attend to the complaints.
Additional inputs from AIR