Lucknow, Sep 6 (IANS): Officials and employees of the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank have donated Rs 13.72 lakh to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund, a state government spokesman said on Wednesday.

The move came in response to a call given by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to come forward and help the people in flood-ravaged districts of the state.

The fund was generated by the bank after its employees and officials decided to donate one days salary to relief for the flood-hit districts. Hundreds of villages have been ravaged by floods in eastern Uttar Pradesh and thousands have been marooned in flood waters.

While the state government has been extending help - both monetary and otherwise - to those affected by the floods, the Chief Minister has during his visits to these places been exhorting the people and organisations to extend a helping hand as well.

Flood has hit many parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Shravasti, Lakhimpur Kheri and Balrampur.

Other than the surplus rains during the monsoons, what has added to the woes of the people in these areas is the extra water routed to the state from neighbouring Nepal, which too has been battered by heavy rains this season.