Flood situation improves in north India; Parts of Agra, Mathura are still inundated
New Delhi: The flood situation in north India eased in the absence of heavy rain in the past couple of days and the water level in major rivers has started receding except in Uttar Pradesh where six more people perished. People in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana got respite as no rainfall was recorded during last two days, easing the flood situation. In Delhi, the old Yamuna bridge, closed to rail traffic due to the rising water level of the river early this week, has been reopened. In Punjab and Haryana, no rainfall has been recorded during last 24 hours. Meanwhile, many areas in Uttar Pradesh were still reeling under floods as major rivers like Ganga, Ramganga and Yamuna were flowing above the danger mark at several places today.
In the flood related casualities today, at least four persons drowned in flood waters in Hardoi district while one each lost life in Bijnore and Badaun. The fresh casualties have taken the death toll this season to 386.
Devotees in the holy town of Vrindavan are lighting lamps and offering special prayers to the river Yamuna for reaching the steps of a holy temple. They converged on the banks of the river near the Lal Gudri temple on Sunday to offer special prayers - saying after a gap of 32 years the waters of the river had touched the steps of the ancient temple. The temple priest said that prayers were being offered to maintain peace and calmness in the river - so that it does not bring any harm to the residents. "We are praying to thank the river Yamuna and to ensure that it stays peaceful," said Basudev Das, temple priest. Pilgrims who come to visit the various temples devoted to the Hindu God Krishna who spent much of his childhood in this small town - said they were feeling blessed to have arrived at such an auspicious time. "We came here to visit the temples at Vrindavan and got to know about the flood in the city and these celebrations. Yamuna River entering Gyan Gurdi has its own significance and offering prayers at this time is very auspicious," said Varsha Tiwari, a visitor. People will continue to light the lamps on the riverbanks until the water recedes. The last time water reached Gyan Gudri was in 1978.
In Punjab's Ferozepur district, with the water-level of the river Satluj rising, several low-lying areas have been inundated, leaving locals homeless and acres of cropland damaged. Over 12,000 cusecs of water was released into the river from the Bhakra Dam on Thursday, causing the river to swell. Several villages located near the embankments of the river were completely submerged by the gushing waters.
"The water level in the river has stopped rising but now it has started increasing once again. The flood water has reached our villages and completely damaged our fields," said Shinder Singh, a villager. Residents said they expected help from the government and blamed it for not doing enough. "Thousands of acres of our fields and standing crops have been destroyed. We request the government to offer whatever compensation they can to the people whose houses have collapsed," said Singh.
The monsoon this year has caused extensive floods in several parts of north Indian states like Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh causing huge devastation to life and property.
