Whenever there is a general election that decides the next government in India, all eyes are drawn towards the Hindi heartland and the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are among the most sought after because a victory in these states is arguably a prerequisite to forming the government at the centre.?
AGENCIES
One would thus assume that these states must be receiving the utmost care, funds and support from the political establishment because they are crucial in forming the government.?
But we could not be further from the truth.?
After Ravishing South And West India earlier this year, the monsoon fury has now struck the Hindi heartland, reigniting flashes of memory from previous years.?
Such devastation is but a norm in these states on a yearly basis but unfortunately we havenĄ¯t yet been able to contain the impact of excessive rains.?
Patients wade through floodwaters on their way to hospital during heavy monsoon rain in Patna in the northeastern state of Bihar on September 28, 2019. AFP PHOTO
At least seventy three people have reportedly died over the past four days in Uttar Pradesh where several parts have been receiving above-average rainfall since about a week. While a? red alert has been sounded by the weather office in most districts of eastern UP, life has come to a standstill in Bihar where heavy downpour since Friday has severely disrupted rail and road traffic.?
People on boat crossing flooded Ganga river at Bind Toli near Kurji in Patna on Friday. BCCL
Early reports on Sunday morning from local media suggested that little relief has reached people and that rains may continue on Sunday, risking more lives to danger in both the states.?
A flood alert has also been sounded across 13 districts in North Bihar and the state government has closed all schools in Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Sheikhpura districts in the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in the state of Bihar for the next two days. At least 13 trains have been cancelled on Sunday morning while delays have also been reported on several routes.
BCCL
The meteorological department has warned about heavy rainfall in some parts of Uttar Pradesh over the next 24 hours. State relief commissioner GS Priyadarshi, All India Radio reported, has instructed all district magistrates to remain extra vigilant in the wake of heavy rain warning.?
According to NDTV, twenty six deaths were reported from different parts of UP on Saturday while an additional forty seven people died across the state in rain-related incidents on Thursday and Friday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked the officials to extend monetary help of Rs. 4 lakh each to the family members of those killed.?
Notably, BJP,led by Yogi Adityanath is in power in Uttar Pradesh where as Nitish Kumar of JDU is in power in Bihar as part of the NDA. The BJP is at the centre too and its been over five years since its rule.This is not the first year when lives are being lost because of flood in India but whereas it gets attention and grabs headlines in most other parts of the country, the devastation it brings in Bihar and UP often go unnoticed as if the lives of these citizens do not matter at all.?
With Inputs From Agencies