Despite the state being on high alert vis – a –vis rains, Uttar Pradesh capital, Lucknow is fast moving towards a Mumbai like situation where severe water logging is the order of the day in the Monsoon. Each year despite diligent reportage by the media, the problem persists in Mumbai. Monday for Lucknow meanwhile has brought out the worst fears.
Most parts saw waterlogging, with vehicular movement being hit. The city witnessed torrential rain throughout Sunday night and earlier half of Monday.
Power outages were reported while the deluge, submerged city roads with knee-deep water, across posh areas in Gomtinagar, Indiranagar, Narahi, Hazratganj, Aliganj, Mahanagar, leaving residents angry.
Locals blamed authorities for the mess owing to poor cleaning of drains. Many areas and localities in old Lucknow were badly affected by the rains as water entered congested areas around Nakkhas.
It rained throughout the night and the rains lasted for well over the next three hours after 8.30 a.m when the skies opened up. The rain inundated most parts of Lucknow bringing the city to a grinding halt. Office goers had a hard time reaching office. College and school students had to be careful, many of whom enjoyed a rainy day off. Among the most affected were localities like Gomtinagar, Indiranagar, Hazratganj and Mahanagar.
Even areas where noted bureaucrats and senior ministers lived were not out of bounds for mother nature. Agencies report water pumps had to be pressed into service to flush out water from areas like Vikramaditya Marg, Dalibagh and Kalidas Marg.
Houses of Cabinet Ministers namely Urban Development Minister Suresh Khanna and Health Minister Siddharthnath Singh were flooded. Adding to the woes of the people across the city were power outages and disruptions in net connectivity.
The situation in Lucknow in specific went out of control even as the Met Office issued a warning of very heavy rains over a span of 48 hours in eastern and central UP.
The monsoon is in the state and the rains are likely to continue for over 10 days, according to Met Director J.P. Gupta.
Road, rail and air traffic have been affected. Many flights have been diverted or are running much behind schedule as per agency reports.
Several photographs and video footage from the state capital show that not just have roads caved in, even vehicles and houses were submerged under water.
Senior officials confirm to news channels – Ten persons were killed and seven others injured in rain related-incidents in different parts of Uttar Pradesh.
The toll since last week in such incidents has reached 80, while total injuries are 84 till 11.30 am today,” Relief Commissioner Sanjay Prasad was quoted as saying.
44 cattle were killed and 451 houses were also damaged in these incidents, he said. Strict instructions have been passed on to senior officials to gear up for inclement weather and buckle up for rescue and relief. People are directed to shift out of low-lying areas and river banks.
With little visibility not just did drivers have a hard time moving on roads, there were also several cases of damage to property from Mainpuri, Agra, Etawah, Utah and Farrukhabad districts, traffic snarls and accidents due to skidding of vehicles or other reasons were other troubling factors.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed senior officials of all the districts to undertake extensive tours in the affected areas and identify dilapidated buildings and get them vacated.
The maximum of 11 deaths were reported from Saharanpur, followed by other places. Rain/thunder showers are very likely to occur at most places over east Uttar Pradesh on July 31 and at many places on August 1.
Following a prediction by the Regional Met Office of more rain in the next 48 hours, an alert has been sounded in districts including Santkabirnagar, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Basti, Faizabad, Agra, Mathura, Farukkhabad and Bulandshahr.
NOTE – All pictures sourced from the net
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