While the Ganga was flowing above the danger mark in Ghazipur and Ballia, the water level was reaching close to the danger mark in Varanasi and Mirzapur.
The flood situation is worsening in low-lying areas of the Ganga and Varuna rivers in Varanasi, as the water level of the Ganga continued to rise at the rate of 3cm per hour on Friday. Rise in the Ganga has led to the rise in water level of Varuna river also due to which the floowater has entered the nearby low-lying areas along the river.
According to the flood bulletin of the Central Water Commission, the Ganga was flowing at the mark of 71.06 m, about 0.202 m below the danger mark in Varanasi, and at the mark of 77.09 m, about 0.63 m below the danger mark in Mirzapur. Meanwhile, the river has crossed the danger mark in Ghazipur and Ballia, where it was flowing 0.335m and 1.355m above the danger marks, respectively.
Meanwhile, UP minister Swatantra Dev Singh along with the divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal and the district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma conducted an inspection of the flood relief camps in Saraiya and Nakhi Ghat areas in Varanasi on Friday. He directed the officials to pay special attention to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the people. He also inspected the food being cooked forrelief camps and directed the officials to move the people living in the flood-affected areas to safe flood relief camps.
The rescue personnel of NDRF have been deployed with all kinds of rescue equipment in full readiness to help people shift to safe places.
In view of the flood situation, the health department has completed preparations by forming 40 medical teams. Of these, 11 teams have also been made functional, which are providing medical facilities in the flood-affected areas.
The CMO Dr Sandeep Choudhary said that along with essential medicines, ORS packets, chlorine tablets, have been made available for distribution in flood-hit areas. Deputy CMO Dr Piyush Rai said that a total of 235 patients were seen in the flood relief camps on Friday. Besides, 190 packets of ORS and 1,280 chlorine tablets were distributed.