Rising Ganga triggers mass evacuations in 17 UP districts amid flood threat

Severe floods are causing widespread problems in Uttar Pradesh. Major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Varuna have risen above their danger marks in many areas. As a result, over 84,000 people have been affected in 17 districts, with thousands of homes damaged or underwater. Relief work is being carried out quickly to help those displaced.

Ganga floods Varanasi as ghats and temples go underwater

In Varanasi, the situation is serious. The Ganga River has risen past the danger level of 71.26 metres, reaching 71.66 metres on Sunday. This rise has completely submerged all 84 ghats, including famous ones like Assi Ghat and the area around Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Water has even reached the gates of Jagannath Temple. Due to this, police have placed barricades to control the movement of people near flooded areas.

In the Varanasi district alone, 32 villages and 24 urban areas have been flooded. Around 6,583 people have been forced to leave their homes—5,361 from city areas and 1,182 from rural parts. The government has set up 20 relief camps in Varanasi to offer shelter, food, and help.

The Varuna River, which runs through the region, is also rising quickly. On Saturday, it increased by 12 feet in just seven hours. This sudden rise has added to the flooding in low-lying areas, damaging homes, roads, and farmland.

Statewide flood impact and ongoing relief operations

Across Uttar Pradesh, 17 districts are facing heavy floods. These include Kanpur Nagar, Prayagraj, Ballia, Banda, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Agra, and more. According to Relief Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami, a total of 84,392 people have been affected, and 343 homes have been damaged. Over 4,015 hectares of agricultural land is under water.

So far, 47,906 people have received some kind of help, and 2,759 animals have been shifted to safer locations. Sadly, 12 people have died in the last 24 hours from causes such as drowning, lightning, and snake bites. The government has given compensation to 327 families whose homes were damaged.

The state government has taken several steps to manage the crisis. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has formed a special 11-member ministerial team known as “Team-11.” These ministers are visiting the worst-hit areas to ensure quick and proper relief work. Districts visited so far include Prayagraj, Ballia, Jalaun, Hamirpur, and Varanasi.

The state has set up:

• 905 flood shelters, where 11,248 people are staying

• 29 community kitchens, providing hot meals

• 757 health teams and 1,193 flood monitoring posts

• 493 boats and motorboats for rescue and supply delivery

• 439 relief camps and 42 boats in Varanasi alone

Over 76,000 hot meals and 6,500 food packets have already been handed out. To protect public health, 500 quintals of cattle fodder, 1.29 lakh chlorine tablets, and more than 37,000 ORS (oral rehydration) packets have been distributed.

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Rivers still above danger marks as rescue forces stay on alert

The flood threat continues as many rivers are still flowing above or close to danger levels. According to the UP irrigation department:

• Ganga River is above danger level in Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Ballia

• Yamuna River is at danger level in Prayagraj, Auraiya, Jalaun, Banda, and Hamirpur

• Varuna River is rapidly rising

• Betwa River is above danger level in Hamirpur

• Ghaghra and Sharda Rivers are near danger mark in Lakhimpur Kheri, Ayodhya, and Barabanki

• Chambal River is flowing above danger mark near the UP-Rajasthan border

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) are actively patrolling the affected areas and helping people evacuate safely. Boats and motorboats are being used to carry out rescue missions and deliver supplies.

All district magistrates have been told to keep relief centres ready, ensure clean drinking water and food, and keep areas safe from disease. Measures such as fogging, anti-larvae spraying, and lime spreading are being done to avoid mosquito-borne diseases.

The government says it is keeping a close eye on the flood situation and is ready to take fast action if needed. The focus now is on saving lives, providing food and shelter, and preparing for any more rainfall that might worsen the floods.