Rahul Gandhi to visit Gorakhpur on Saturday

Lucknow: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be in Gorakhpur on Saturday.

The Chief Minister will be inaugurating the ‘Swachch Uttar Pradesh-Swasthya Uttar Pradesh’ campaign' which will continue between August 20 to 25 in all the districts.

The Chief Minister will launch the campaign from Andhiyari Bagh locality and will also tour encephalitis and flood-affected areas.

Mr Gandhi will also arrive in Gorakhpur in connection with the death of children in the BRD medical college hospital.

He will visit the BRD Medical College and meet the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, the current spell of floods in Uttar Pradesh has claimed 36 lives, especially in eastern parts of the state pounded by incessant rains, prompting authorities to seek the Army’s help for relief and rescue operations, officials said on Friday.

With 22 of the 75 districts bearing the brunt of flood fury, the Army’s assistance has been sought in around six worst-hit districts, including Gorakhpur and Siddharthnagar, they said. According to a report of the disaster management department of the state, nearly 14.5 lakh people were hit in 2,013 villages.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday undertook an aerial survey of the worst-affected areas in Balrampur and Siddhartnagar districts to take stock of the situation. He directed the officials to ensure airdropping of food packets in case the marooned areas were inaccessible even by boats. “All arrangements must be made to provide succour to the needy,” he said, and warned that there should be no laxity in flood relief.