By IANS,
Lucknow : At least 16 people have died in Uttar Pradesh due to the heavy rains that have been lashed the state over the past week, officials said Wednesday.
Incidents of houses collapsing due to the rains claimed 11 lives in Barabanki, about 30 km from here, and three in Faizabad district Tuesday. Two people died in Balrampur and Bahraich districts.
“Over 500 cases of house collapse have been reported in the state since the onset of monsoon and the number is rising, especially in rural areas,” an official of the relief and rescue department told IANS.
Most rivers are reported to be flowing above the danger level. While waters of the Saryu have flooded hundreds of villages in Faizabad district, the Ghaghra has wrecked havoc in Lakhimpur, Gonda and Bahraich districts.
“The Rapti is also flowing above the danger mark in Shrawasti district,” the official said.
“An ex-gratia payment of Rs.100,000 will be paid to the families of the deceased. We are also asking villagers to leave thatched houses and move to safer places. Arrangements are being made to house them in government schools,” said Barabanki District Magistrate K. Ravindra Nayak.