UP Floods Devastate 13 Districts, Ganga Overflows
Ganga, Yamuna flood Varanasi, Prayagraj, submerging villages.
Relentless rainfall has unleashed severe flooding across 13 districts in Uttar Pradesh, with major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Betwa surging above danger levels, according to the relief commissioner’s office. The crisis has disrupted lives, submerged villages, and prompted urgent rescue operations across the state.
In Varanasi, the Ganga breached the danger mark of 71.262 meters, reaching 72.1 meters by Monday morning, submerging all 84 ghats and forcing religious rituals to adapt. The iconic Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat is now held on rooftops, while cremations at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats have shifted to elevated platforms. “All ghats are underwater, cutting off access,” said Shivam Agrahari of Ganga Seva Nidhi. Boat movement has been banned, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are patrolling to evacuate stranded residents to safety.
In Prayagraj, both the Ganga and Yamuna have exceeded the danger mark of 84.73 meters since Saturday, with water levels recorded at 86.03 meters (Ganga, Phaphamau) and 86.04 meters (Yamuna, Naini) on Monday morning. Over 200 villages and 60 urban settlements, including Rajapur, Beli Kachhar, and Chhota Baghada, are inundated. The district administration has suspended school activities and set up flood relief camps to support affected residents. Rural areas, including 18 villages in Phulpur and 12 in Meja, are also heavily impacted.
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The flooding spans districts like Mirzapur, Ghazipur, Ballia, Auraiya, Jalaun, and Kanpur Dehat, with the Betwa river above the danger mark in Hamirpur. Sunday’s 14.2 mm rainfall, coupled with heavy downpours in 24 districts, has worsened the situation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has deployed an 11-member ministerial team to oversee relief efforts, with 47,906 people receiving aid and 2,759 cattle relocated. Over 4,015 hectares of farmland remain submerged, threatening livelihoods.
As the state battles this crisis, authorities are distributing food, chlorine tablets, and ORS packets to prevent waterborne diseases, while ministers monitor operations in affected areas to ensure swift and compassionate relief.
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