Former Union Minister Kalpnath Rai, four-time MP from Ghosi parliamentary constituency of east UP, had a bitter experience when he lost his newborn son because he could not get him proper medical treatment on time due to chaotic roads and floods. The incident happened decades ago, and Rai is no more.
But even decades later, nothing has improved much in the regions of east UP like Gorakhpur, Deoria, Maharajganj, Balia, Mau. Though east UP has produced many prominent politicians like former prime ministers Chandra Shekhar and V.P. Singh, former UP CM Veer Bahadur Singh who was also union communication minister in 1988, the villages here suffer from utmost apathy. The villagers in these regions live in extreme chaotic conditions. For them, struggle for existence is fierce. Some villages like Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur have also played an important role in the country's freedom struggle.
As one moves around these regions, especially during rainy season, one comes across marooned villages and villagers pitching their tents to escape fury of floods. Ballu Kumar’s house was ravaged by the violent waters of the Rapti river. He and his family now live on the sides of the Gorakhpur -Basti highway. Ballu said, “No matter how many PMs or CMs this region has produced, there has been no improvement in our living conditions even after decades of independence. We have been still living like insects.”
The villagers have no access to proper healthcare or education. For basic healthcare facilities, they will have to travel 30 to 35km. During rains, the only means to travel would be small boats that ferry passengers.
Padeep Kumar a resident of Nausar area said that now the power has been cut off in these flooded areas and it would come back after 20 to 25 days. Recently the water had come onto the road as furious waters of Rapti had breached Khadkhadia Ring Dam in Kampiarganj, shutting down traffic movement on Nausad- Kalesar road. As one moves further towards Bihar, the areas of Bariya, Hukum Rasda present a gory sight. Menacing waters of Ghagra river have flooded many villages like Vasisht Nagar. Samar Yadav, an affected local, said that the village has been always neglected in terms of development. “Though Chandra Shekhar from Balia has been the prime minister of the country that, too, did not help us much,” he said.
MLA Sangeeta Yadav from Chauri Chaura said, "This is really unfortunate. The plight of these people is unimaginable. The government, besides providing financial assistance, are doing its best to deal with the crisis.”
Japanese encephalitis has been a big malady in these regions and reportedly has claimed over 40,000 lives in the past four decades. The recent deaths in BRD medical college of Gorakhpur has been a burning example of gross apathy and neglect of this region. This despite Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former chief minister Veer Bahadur hailing from this region.
So far over 69 people have lost their lives in these floods. “This has been an every-year phenomenon, but no governments—previous or present—have thought of long term measures to develop these regions. They always relied on piecemeal measures,” said Lal Singh, a villager.
