Severe flooding continues to affect many parts of Uttar Pradesh as rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Varuna swell above their danger levels. According to officials, more than 84,000 people have been hit by the floods, and over 11,000 have been forced to leave their homes.

Varanasi: Ganga floods all 84 ghats

In Varanasi, the Ganga River crossed the danger mark of 71.26 meters and touched 71.66 meters on Sunday. As a result, all 84 ghats in the city have been submerged. Even important spots like the Ganga Dwar near Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the sculptures at Namo Ghat are underwater.

Floodwaters have reached roads near Assi Ghat and are touching the gates of the Jagannath Temple. To keep people safe, the police have placed barricades in crowded areas.

So far, 6,583 people in Varanasi have been displaced, with 5,361 from urban areas and 1,182 from rural villages. The district has set up 20 relief camps to shelter and support those affected.

Varuna River rises rapidly

The situation became worse on Saturday when the Varuna River rose 12 feet within just seven hours. This sudden rise caused more damage in low-lying areas and ruined many fields and roads.

17 districts affected across the state

Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami said that 17 districts are facing serious flood problems. These include Kanpur Nagar, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ballia, Banda, Ghazipur, Chitrakoot, Mirzapur, Agra, and others.

In total, 84,392 people in 402 villages across 37 tehsils have been affected by floodwaters. So far, 47,906 people have been given help, and 2,759 animals have been safely moved. About 4,015 hectares of farmland are now underwater.

State steps in with relief and rescue

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sent a special team of 11 ministers, known as "Team-11", to oversee relief work on the ground. These ministers are visiting the most affected districts such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, and Ballia.

The government has taken these steps to help:

  • 905 flood shelters are active, housing over 11,248 people

  • 29 community kitchens are feeding thousands

  • 757 health teams and 1,193 flood posts are on the ground

  • 493 boats and motorboats are delivering help

  • In Varanasi alone, 439 relief camps and 42 boats are in use

So far, more than 76,000 meals and over 6,500 food packets have been given out. Also, 500 quintals of animal fodder have been provided, along with 1.29 lakh chlorine tablets and 37,089 ORS packets to prevent diseases.

12 dead in last 24 hours

At least 12 people have died in the past 24 hours due to flooding. Causes include lightning, drowning, and snake bites. Help has been given to 327 families whose homes were damaged.

Rescue forces on high alert

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) are working day and night. They are making sure people are rescued and relief is delivered without delay.

Major rivers flowing dangerously

According to the state irrigation department, many rivers are still flowing above or near the danger level:

  • Ganga: Dangerously high in Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Ballia

  • Yamuna: At danger level in Prayagraj, Auraiya, Jalaun, Banda, and Hamirpur

  • Betwa: Above the danger mark in Hamirpur

  • Sharda and Ghaghra: Near danger level in Lakhimpur Kheri, Barabanki, and Ayodhya

  • Chambal: Overflowing at the UP-Rajasthan border

All district magistrates have been told to make sure relief camps are running properly. Security forces are deployed, and health workers are spraying anti-larvae chemicals, doing fogging, and using lime powder to keep areas clean and safe.

The government is keeping a close watch on the situation and has ordered continued rescue and relief efforts to protect people across the state.

You might also be interested in - Indian cities need $2.4 trillion by 2050 to tackle floods, heat, and other climate risks: Report