Schools in Allahabad, Varanasi closed due to floods

Lucknow:  Flood situation in many parts of Uttar Pradesh has worsened and schools have been closed for the next few days in Allahabad and Balia, officials said on Tuesday. With the raging waters of Ganga river entering the city in Allahabad, district magistrate Sanjay Kumar ordered closure of the schools for the next two days. In Allahabad, Indian Air Force choppers were being used to drop relief material, food and other commodities in the flood hit areas. More than 45 localities have been hit by the floods and water has entered thousands of homes in Allahabad. All schools in Ballia have been closed till August 27, district magistrate Govind Raju said. An embankment here started breaching late on Monday after which the Army was requisitioned and people evacuated. The breach has since been plugged, an official told IANS. Over 16 lakh people have been affected by the floods in Poorvanchal - eastern Uttar Pradesh, alone and a huge population was relocated, the official said. More than 200 villages have been affected in Varanasi and 500 houses were under water due to the raging Varuna river here. National Disaster Response Force personnel have been involved in rescue operations in five flood hit districts of Gonda, Ballia, Varanasi, Balrampur and Allahabad.