Flood situation grim in UP; Varanasi, Prayagraj worst hit

In Uttar Pradesh, the flood situation remained grim, particularly in Varanasi and Prayagraj, for the third consecutive day on Monday, with more roads and houses in both urban and rural areas submerged in floodwaters.

However, rains have continued to lash the entire Uttar Pradesh for the past 48 hours, during which more than 32 people have lost their lives.

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Rains are wreaking havoc in 17 districts in the state. In view of heavy downpours, a holiday has been declared in many schools of the state, including the capital Lucknow, on Monday.

The flood-affected districts include Kanpur Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Agra, Auraiya, Chitrakoot, Ballia, Banda, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Chandauli, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat, Hamirpur, Etawah and Fatehpur.

Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami said here on Monday that a total of 84392 people are affected in 17 districts, out of which 47906 people have been given relief material. Due to the flood, 2759 cattle have been shifted to a safe place. So far,
houses of 343 people have been damaged due to the flood, and out of these, 327 people have received assistance. More than 4015 hectares of area in the state have been affected by the flood.

In Bijnore, due to the catchment areas, the water level of Malan river has crossed the danger level, and the flood waters have entered several localities in the Najibabad area of the district.

A report from Varanasi quoting officials said the Ganga river is flowing above the danger mark in Varanasi, even as 32 villages and 24 wards/mohallas of Kashi have been affected due to the surge in the Ganga and Varuna rivers. Apart from this, 327.89 hectares of agricultural land are also affected. Ganga water is moving towards the roads from Assi Ghat, Samne Ghat, Sheetla Ghat, and Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Due to rising water levels, cremation is being done on the roof at Manikarnika Ghat and in the streets at Harishchandra crematorium. One has to wait for two to three hours for cremation.

According to the report of the Central Water Commission, the water level of the Ganga was recorded at 72.05 meters till 12 noon on Monday. The water level is rising at the rate of 0.5 centimetres per hour. The warning point is 70.26 metres, the danger point is 71.26 metres, and the maximum water level is 73.90 metres.

Officials confirmed that the flood has displaced 1,470 farmers from more than 32 villages and more than 5,361 people from 24 wards/mohallas. More than 600 families are living in flood relief camps, while 577 families have taken shelter in other safe places.

The most affected areas in Varanasi include Salarpur, Nakkhighat, Dhelwariya, Saraiya, Hukulganj, Daniyalpur, Sarnath, Nagwan, Assi, Samne Ghat, Maruti Nagar, Sikraul, Paigambarpur, Konia, Sarai Mohana, Kapildhara, Baghwa Nala, and Domri. There are 46 flood relief camps in the district. Of which 20 are active.

Divisional Commissioner S. Rajlingam said that instructions have been given to provide all essential items to the people living in relief camps. Officials have been asked to patrol and keep a special vigil in flood-affected areas. The water level of the Ganga river has crossed the danger point in Kashi.

Meanwhile, a report from Prayagraj said both the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are flowing 1.5 meters above the danger mark and even on Monday. The water level of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers is rising rapidly.

According to the district administration, 107 urban localities and villages in the district are in the grip of floods. Many villages have lost contact with the city. Boats are running in the streets of the locality. 159 boats have been arranged to evacuate people from flood-affected areas.

NDRF, SDRF and Jal Police have taken charge. So far, more than 7000 people have taken shelter in 18 flood relief camps set up in the urban area. It is estimated that 5 lakh people have been affected in urban and rural areas, although no deaths have been confirmed by the administration yet.