Lucknow is in trouble due to Gomti flood, more than one lakh people forced to flee.
Lucknow. The flood of Gomti river in the capital Lucknow has badly affected life in many areas. The situation remains extremely serious in Faizullaganj, Mallahi Tola and surrounding flood affected areas. The river water has reached houses, streets, shops and roads. The household wealth built up by thousands of families through years of hard work has been submerged in water. Many people’s vehicles, household items and goods kept in shops have also been ruined.
The situation can be gauged from the fact that more than one lakh population of the flood affected areas had to leave their homes and move to safer places. People whose houses have been flooded are forced to take shelter with their families at relatives, acquaintances or in temporary shelters. There are many families who have no safe place to go and are looking towards the administration in the hope of relief.
The impact of flood is most visible in Faizullaganj and Mallahi Tola. Many streets here are filled with water and it has become difficult for people to come out of their homes. Due to water reaching several feet inside many houses, it is not possible to take out the goods. The families who somehow took out the essential items are also now worried about their safety.
Floods not only damaged houses but also had a major impact on people’s livelihood. The goods of shopkeepers running small shops have been submerged in water. Two-wheelers and four-wheelers of many people are also stranded in water. The fear of damage to household appliances, furniture, ration, clothes and important documents has further increased the worry of the affected families.
The most serious situation is of those families who have no other source of income. Now a double challenge has arisen in front of the daily wage earners. On one hand, their house and belongings have been destroyed, on the other hand, it has become difficult to meet their daily expenses due to work being stopped. The biggest concern for such families now is not assessing the loss, but making arrangements for food and shelter in the coming days.
There is an atmosphere of helplessness and uncertainty everywhere in the flood affected areas. People are waiting for the water to recede, but are also worried about the situation after this. After the water recedes, problems like cleaning of houses, removal of damaged goods, restoration of electricity system and availability of clean drinking water may come to the fore.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met the flood affected people and inquired about their condition. He assured all possible help to the affected families. The Chief Minister directed the officials to provide relief to the affected people and ensure necessary arrangements. The victims also presented their problems before the Chief Minister and demanded relief.
Lucknow MP and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also kept an eye on the situation. He took information from the officials over the phone about the flood situation and relief operations. The administrative staff has been asked to rapidly advance relief work in the affected areas.
Relief and rescue arrangements in Faizullaganj, Mallahi Tola and surrounding areas now remain a big challenge for the administration. Along with taking the affected families to safe places, availability of food, drinking water and essential medicines will also have to be ensured. Prolonged stay in water can also increase the risk of infections and diseases.
Local people say that they have seen waterlogging and flood-like situations before, but this time the damage is much more. Many families had built houses with years of savings and gradually collected household items. Now everything is submerged in water. Many people are standing outside their homes waiting for the water to recede.
Children, elderly and women suffer the most in flood affected areas. Reaching safe places, arranging food and medicines has become a big challenge for these families. Many families are facing the threat of the education of their school going children being affected.
The administration is continuously feeling the need to speed up the relief work. The affected people want that a survey of the damage should be done soon and financial assistance should be provided. Along with this, deployment of health department teams and arrangements for cleanliness will also be necessary to prevent diseases spreading after floods.
This flood of Gomti has suddenly changed the lives of people in many areas of the capital. In those houses where normal routine was going on till a few days ago, there is now a scene of water and destruction. At present, the eyes of the victim families are fixed on the help of the government and administration. The full assessment of the real loss will be revealed after the water recedes, but right now the biggest priority is to keep people safe and ensure food, water and shelter for them.