32 dead in Uttarakhand monsoon fury; lakhs homeless in north India
August 18, 2014  09:35
Heavy rains have claimed 32 lives in Uttarakhand and flash floods ravaged the state. 

Numerous districts across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Assam have been badly affected and lakhs of people displaced. Release of water from Nepal has also added to the problem.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh did a status check of Uttarakhand on Sunday. Last year, the state had witnessed heavy rains flooding towns and villages, killing thousands.

Rajnath reached Dehradun on Sunday to review the situation and promised maximum assistance possible to the state. The village of Bairagarh was one of the worst affected in the state. It proved to be extremely difficult to reach the village given the havoc caused by heavy rains and flooding.

In Uttar Pradesh, 10 people have been killed and around 600 villages have been affected by floods and heavy rain. The UP government has, however, assured that the entire state machinery has been engaged in rescue and relief work

In Bihar, the water levels of the Kosi river have flooded many villages along it's course. The state government has requested the Army to be on standby. In Assam, one lakh people have been affected with the Brahmaputra flowing above the danger mark.

Seventy percent of Kaziranga National Park area is inundated, forcing the administration to move the animals to highlands. In Jorhat district, 45 villages have been flooded. In the Morigaon district 25 villages have submerged affecting about 2000 people. The Army has evacuated 145 civilians in the Nagaon distric of Assam so far.

Even as the central government has promised support to all states, thousands still await rescue and relief.
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