Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have sounded a high alert in its Maharajganj and Kushinagar, which share borders with Nepal, in the aftermath of the mayhem caused due to floods in Nepal which killed at least 177 people and rendered thousands of people missing. Meanwhile, surveillance has been stepped up in UP’s Gandak rivers and other water bodies flowing downstream from Nepal. 

The state administration is keeping a close tab on river levels and has alerted vulnerable villages, besides keeping relief and rescue teams on standby. After receiving directives from state Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, authorities also dispatched a 32-member State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) platoon, along with 22 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel to Nepal to assist the neighbouring nation with rescue and relief operations. 

The SDRF platoon dispatched to Nepal has been equipped with four rubber boats and one aluminium boat. The Relief Commissioner’s control room is monitoring the border districts, and families of the state, seeking updates about their kin can hit up the helpline number 1070. 

Rivers under close watch

Nepal bore the brunt of flash floods after an ice-rock landslide blocked a river near the country’s border with China. According to Nepal’s disaster management authorities, the natural calamity has affected several districts, and at least 826 people are missing. 

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said nearly 300 Indian tourists were among those reported missing. The floods have also ravaged roads and bridges, leaving several major highways blocked. 

In UP’s Maharajganj, District Magistrate (DM) Gaurav Singh Sogarwal and Superintendent of Police (SP) Shakti Mohan Avasthy inspected the Narayani River, as well as adjoining areas and reviewed preparedness. 

In order to assess rescue arrangements, they also boarded an SDRF boat near the tail fall. 

Sogarwal directed the revenue officials, police personnel and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as well as the SDRF personnel to maintain continuous surveillance of the river. He also pleaded with the residents to stay away from rivers and low-lying areas. 

In the neighbouring Kushinagar district, DM Mahendra Singh Tanwar, accompanied by SP Kehsav Kumar, took stock of vulnerable riverside villages and the Valmikinagar barrage as water levels in the Gandak River, locally known as Narayani, rose. 

Rising water levels trigger concern

The Central Water Commission’s Daily Water Level and Forecast Bulletin dated August 27 displayed the Rapti river rising at Madhwapur in Bihar, where the water level stood at 124.54 metres at 8 am. 

The water levels also surged at Sarju (Babai) in Gaighat and at several stations along the Kwano and Sarda Rivers. During the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Thursday, the Rapti River received 40 mm of rainfall at Bhinga, 36.4 mm at Madhwapur and 43.6 mm at Balrampur. 

Concerns rise over missing UP residents

In Ballia, 54-year-old Usha Devi and her 18-year-old son Rahul, residents of Rasra, have been reported missing after flooding along Nepal's Trishuli river. They were reportedly at their family's shop when the flooding occurred on August 26. District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh said authorities were seeking information about the two.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Gonda BJP MP Kirti Vardhan Singh expressed grief over the deaths and missing Indian tourists. He said the Indian government was assisting rescue operations and that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had reached Nepal with modern equipment and technology.

In Balrampur, Gaisri MLA Rakesh Yadav announced that the Samajwadi Party would send medicines, medical equipment, food packets, tents, tarpaulins and drinking water to flood-hit areas in Nepal.

Prayers and yajnas have also been organised in Vrindavan for the safety of flood victims, with the programme scheduled to continue until the situation improves.