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Ganga swells across UP: Varanasi faces flood-like situation, Manikarnika Ghat completely submerged
Sambhal District Magistrate said that the district is on alert and has established 16 flood control posts.
Amid incessant rainfall across northern India, the Ganga River is swelling rapidly, prompting flood alerts in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi and Prayagraj.
As per reports, the Ganga is also in full spate in Varanasi, where all 84 ghats are completely submerged. In response to rising water levels, authorities have opened 18 gates of the Matatila Dam in Lalitpur and 8 gates of the Govind Sagar Dam.
Varanasi
The flooding has affected numerous low-lying areas near the ghats and left over 80 of them under water, interrupting regular religious practices and riverside activities.
The Central Water Commission's middle Ganga division flood report indicates that Varanasi experienced a 0.7m increase in water levels within 24 hours.
Earlier this month, following continuous heavy rainfall in Varanasi, the ghats were submerged under water and temples were inundated as the level of the River Ganga rose above the danger level.
Residents said that the water level is rising and submerging one step of the ghat each day.
The Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi was completely submerged, and a nearby temple was inundated. Similarly, Ram Ghat in Prayagraj went underwater as the river continued to swell.
Sambhal
In Sambhal, the river is now flowing at a critical 177.60 meters, putting at least 36 villages at potential risk.
“The water level in the river Ganga is at 177.60 mtr. In our district, 36 villages get affected by floods. We have established 16 flood control posts and identified 13 shelter homes in these areas. The tender process for flood relief kits has also been completed. We are on alert. The last time a flood situation arose was in 2010,” Sambhal DM Dr Rajender Pensiya told ANI.
Prayagraj
In Prayagraj also, water levels in the river Ganga continue to rise. Several houses were inundated as water entered the lower regions of the city.
On Monday, the Ganga water entered the Bade Hanuman Mandir in Prayagraj as the level of the River Ganga increased in the Area.
