Army evacuates people marooned in Gorakhpur

Lucknow, Aug 20 : The Army on Sunday rescued people marooned in flood-hit Gorakhpur city in Uttar Pradesh, a military official informed.

Three teams from the Army have been pressed into service at the request of the state government. All three teams were "working relentlessly to rescue people marooned in the flood waters", the official said.

They were also distributing relief material such as food packets, water, medicines and dry ration.

More than 250 persons have been evacuated in the last 24 hours in Gorakhpur's Moharipur, Maniram and Gau Ghaat areas.

Officials told IANS that 500 kg of dry ration, a large number of water bottles, sufficient quantity of medicines and 1,000 food packets were distributed.

Large parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Shrawasti, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Balrampur and Siddharthanagar, have been hit by floods due to heavy rains and water released by neighbouring Nepal.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been making aerial surveys of the affected areas for the last few days and has also distributed relief material.

Adityanath has also inspected the flooded areas on life boats and has told officials to ensure that relief material reaches the people without delay.