VARANASI: Though the water level of Ganga became stable before touching the warning level in Varanasi on Sunday, the flood waters of overflowing Ganga entered in many low lying areas through its tributary river Varuna by Saturday night.
Due to it, around 30 families shifted their women and children to relief camps.
After taking stock of the areas and ghats marooned by increased water level of river Ganga, District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “Despite the river Ganga had stopped increasing, we are continuing our preparations to meet the challenges to be faced in the case of further increase of water level. All flood posts are operating round the clock while relief camps have also been operationalised for the people of low lying area along river Varuna.”
According to Central Water Commission‘s middle Ganga division office, trend of increase in water level of Ganga had stopped in Varanasi by 8 am on Sunday. Till then Ganga’s water level had reached up to 69.77 meters against the warning level of 70.26 mt. The danger level is at 71.26 mt while highest flood level recorded in 1978 was 73.90 mt.
As the rising trend continued till Saturday late night, flood water had started entering the low lying areas at Ganga upstream in the areas of Samneghat through nullahs. Ganga also flooded its tributary river Varuna and its water also started entering many low lying areas, especially between Saraimhana and Puranapul. In view of it, around 30 families from these localities shifted their children and women to the relief camps in night, although they stayed at homes.
The DM said that teams of land revenue department, NDRF and police were vigilant. Boating had already been stopped in river Ganga when the water level had started increasing alarmingly a week ago. After water level crossed the mark of 67 mt, not only performing of daily Ganga aarti became difficult but even finding sufficient space for cremation at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats also became a hilly task. While bodies reaching Manikarnika Ghat were being cremated at upper platforms, cremation had started taking place the street leading to Harischandra Ghat.
Due to it, around 30 families shifted their women and children to relief camps.
After taking stock of the areas and ghats marooned by increased water level of river Ganga, District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “Despite the river Ganga had stopped increasing, we are continuing our preparations to meet the challenges to be faced in the case of further increase of water level. All flood posts are operating round the clock while relief camps have also been operationalised for the people of low lying area along river Varuna.”
According to Central Water Commission‘s middle Ganga division office, trend of increase in water level of Ganga had stopped in Varanasi by 8 am on Sunday. Till then Ganga’s water level had reached up to 69.77 meters against the warning level of 70.26 mt. The danger level is at 71.26 mt while highest flood level recorded in 1978 was 73.90 mt.
As the rising trend continued till Saturday late night, flood water had started entering the low lying areas at Ganga upstream in the areas of Samneghat through nullahs. Ganga also flooded its tributary river Varuna and its water also started entering many low lying areas, especially between Saraimhana and Puranapul. In view of it, around 30 families from these localities shifted their children and women to the relief camps in night, although they stayed at homes.
The DM said that teams of land revenue department, NDRF and police were vigilant. Boating had already been stopped in river Ganga when the water level had started increasing alarmingly a week ago. After water level crossed the mark of 67 mt, not only performing of daily Ganga aarti became difficult but even finding sufficient space for cremation at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats also became a hilly task. While bodies reaching Manikarnika Ghat were being cremated at upper platforms, cremation had started taking place the street leading to Harischandra Ghat.