Water from U'khand dams, excessive rain cause flooding in 6 UP districts

Release of water from dams in Uttarakhand and widespread rainfall in river catchment areas caused severe flooding in several districts in the Terai region and the plains of Uttar Pradesh, an official report said on Monday. Many villages in Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, Kushinagar, Balrampur, Shravasti and Gond districts have been affected by floods due to widespread rainfall in river catchment areas and the release of dam water. A report from the Relief Commissioner's Office said the Sharda river in Pilibhit district was in spate due to the overnight release of about three lakh cusecs of water from the Banbasa dam in Uttarakhand, with floodwater from the river entering 20 villages. A National Distaster Response Force team is working with the help of 32 boats to take the affected people to safety, it said. The Banbasa barrage on the Sharda in Uttarakhand also released water into the river, with its effects visible in Lakhimpur Kheri. The river is flowing above the danger mark in the district