The flood situation in eastern Uttar Pradesh is still not under control as several rivers including Saryu and Rapti continue to swell even on the sixth day.
At a time when the flood situation is reeling in the state, the District Magistrate of Ambedkar Nagar has made an insensitive statement. A video went viral in which the DM is heard saying that the government is not running “Zomato” to provide door-to-door service or relief materials to people in the flood-hit areas. The official addressed the flood-affected people in Ambedkar Nagar and said, “…If you need, you will be provided with chlorine tablets, and a doctor will come to see when one falls sick, this is the reason why flood posts (baadh chowki) are established. We are not running any Zomato service, the government is not running Zomato,” The DM asked the flood-affected people in the locality to collect relief materials.
Zomato is an Indian food delivery company which provides door-to-door food service. The statement came considering the feast timings of people in the flood-affected area. Addressing the people here, he asked them to fix their time so that the food could be prepared accordingly.
“Firstly, you all prepare a time for feast at the flood post, then as many people would be present in the morning, the food for the same number of people can be prepared in the evening,” he said mentioning that the persons whose name is mentioned in the list are not even available here.
This occurred as the inhabitants’ homes began to be affected by the flooding.
Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, issued a warning to the government to be on high alert on September 18 in response to an increase in the water level of the Kuano river at Chandradeep Ghat.
Yogi Adityanath presided over a high-level conference earlier this week where it was decided to speed up the relief and recovery efforts in all the districts hit by the heavy rains. CM Yogi also gave the order for Joint Magistrate level personnel to oversee the District Control Room’s operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
CM Yog, in view of the possible threat of the floods,instructed the officials of Gonda, Basti, Ambedkar Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Deoria, Mau, Ballia, and Ayodhya to be on alert.