Uttar Pradesh / Ballia : 939 prisoners were shifted due to waterlogging in Ballia Jail

At least 939 prisoners lodged in Ballia jail have been shifted to jails in adjoining districts following waterlogging due to incessant rains. Divisional Commissioner Azamgarh Vijay Vishwas Pant called a meeting of officials on Saturday evening to finalize the strategy for the drainage of water from the submerged areas of Ballia and Azamgarh.

Mainly the main city areas of both the districts are badly affected by incessant rains, he said. Most of the city areas of Azamgarh are submerged, while massive waterlogging inside Ballia Jail has led to the inmates being shifted to jails in Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar districts.

Ballia and some other districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh received heavy rains on Friday and Saturday, leading to waterlogging. Heavy duty pumps were installed to remove the water. Ballia district jail superintendent Lal Ratnakar Singh said there was heavy waterlogging inside the barracks and officials issued orders to shift the prisoners.
He said that 600 were sent to Azamgarh Jail, while 339 were shifted to Ambedkar Nagar Jail on receiving orders to shift 939 prisoners, including 61 women. While arranging buses, the officials ensured tight security arrangements for shifting of prisoners till late Saturday night. In Azamgarh, six marriage halls were converted into shelter homes for those whose homes were flooded with water.