Gorakhpur: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday visited flood-affected areas of Kushinagar after a portion of the AP embankment along the Narayani river breached near Tatwa Tola in Jawahin Dayal (Chain Patti) village late Monday following a surge in water flow from Nepal.The CM announced that 5,000 relief kits had been arranged for affected families. Each kit contains food grains, pulses, essential commodities and household items. He said families of those who lost their lives would receive Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia, while those whose houses were destroyed would be provided new homes under the PM Awas Yojana or CM Awas Yojana. Financial assistance would also be given for repair of partially damaged houses.After conducting an aerial survey of the affected region, he said crop losses in around 15-16 villages would be assessed and compensation would be provided within 10 days. He also directed officials to repair damaged roads and strengthen the embankment to prevent future breaches.The CM also met displaced villagers, distributed relief kits, lunch packets and chocolates among children, and assured residents that the govt was fully committed to supporting them during the crisis.Yogi later visited an inter college at Bedupar in Sevarhi, where flood-hit families have taken shelter, and interacted with residents. He directed officials to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation measures.Addressing villagers, the chief minister said that heavy rainfall over the past four days, coupled with excessive rainfall in Nepal, led to a sudden rise in the Narayani river’s discharge. While the river normally carries three to four lakh cusecs of water, the flow surged to around 5.5 lakh cusecs, causing flooding in villages adjoining the embankment.He said NDRF and SDRF teams, along with PAC flood units, had been deployed for rescue operations and that officials from the administration and irrigation department had been engaged in relief work since Monday night.Water Resources Minister Swatantra Dev Singh also reached the site and monitored operations.To prevent water-borne diseases, Yogi instructed health authorities to run medical camps in the area for the next five to six days and ensure adequate stocks of anti-snake venom and anti-rabies vaccines at PHCs and CHCs.He further directed the irrigation department to undertake dredging and channelisation of the Narayani river after floodwaters recede to improve the river’s flow and enhance protection for nearby villages.
