The Saryu river in Deoria, UP is flowing about 90 cm above the danger mark. Flood water has entered the ashram of Maharshi Devraha Baba located in Mail area of Barhaj tehsil. The ashram is surrounded by water from all sides and the only means of transport is boats. Wherever you look, you will see only water. To reach this ashram, one has to travel about one and a half kilometers by boat, due to which devotees are facing a lot of problems.
A small boat has been installed for transportation, which is very unsafe. It has neither life jackets nor any means for rescue. Regarding this, the Mahant of Devraha Baba Ashram said that a broken boat has been installed, which poses a threat to the lives of the visitors. People from the country and abroad come to the ashram. There is also a cowshed in the ashram, in which there is a crisis of fodder for the animals.
When Aaj Tak’s team talked to the administrative officials in this regard, the revenue inspector was sent to Naryanv village. On asking, he told that life jackets are being arranged and two boats are also being arranged.
The road to Devraha Baba Ashram is blocked
It is worth noting that flood crisis has arisen in about two dozen villages of Barhaj tehsil of the district. Water has entered the areas along the river. Crops have drowned. The roads from Naryanv of Mail to Devraha Baba Ashram have been closed from all sides. Only water is visible everywhere. At present, the administration’s arrangements seem to be poor. Due to this, there is a lot of anger among the people here and the Mahant of the ashram.
The Mahant of the ashram said this
Mahant Shyam Sundar Das of Devraha Baba Ashram said that apart from the problems faced by mother cows, the devotees are also facing a lot of problems. The boat arranged by the administration is not well organised. A broken boat has been installed, which poses a threat to the lives of the people coming and going. A steamer should be installed here. The arrangements should be better. But the administration is being lax. The land of such a great man where people come from all over the country and abroad is not being given attention.
At the same time, a local named Ramu Yadav said that the water level of Saryu has increased a lot. Water is flowing up to 4 to 5 feet on the road leading to Devraha Baba Ashram. The road has turned into a canal. The two boats that were deployed by the administration in view of Janmashtami are insufficient. There is danger in them. The crops of the farmers have drowned, they should get proper compensation. People are going to far-flung areas by boat to get fodder for animals. About two dozen villages are affected by the flood.
This village has been facing the brunt of floods for years
Let us tell you that there is a village in Barhaj tehsil of Deoria district which has been forced to bear the brunt of floods for years. When there is a flood in the Rapti river, this village remains surrounded by water from all sides for about three months. The only means of transportation left is boats. The situation is similar at this time as well. The villagers are worried, there is a shortage of fodder for animals. The crops have also drowned. The elderly and sick people are facing the most problems. If one has to go to the hospital in an emergency, one will have to go by boat only.
There is no permanent paved path or road here, when the water dries up, people use the same rough and unpaved path. Neither the MP nor the MLA takes cognizance of this. The attitude of the officials is also lax. The villagers demand that if a bridge of about one and a half kilometer is constructed, then this village will be free from the horror of flood forever.
DM visited the village
Last Tuesday, DM Divya Mittal reached this village with the entire administrative staff via boat/steamer and landed on the shore and visited the village. Also, she held a meeting and listened to the problems of the villagers. Here, people raised the most important issue of road and culvert. People demanded the construction of culvert. On this, the DM said that she will prepare a proposal and send it to the government.
DM Divya Mittal told Aaj Tak during a conversation that there is no road here. Boat is the only means of transport and there is no proper road for the rest of the time. In such a situation, a proposal will be made and sent to the government. At present, relief material, medicines etc. have been distributed here.