Varanasi: As level of Ganga water neared warning level of 70.26 meters in Varanasi, floodwater started entering localities along the banks of its tributary, Varuna, on Sunday. Over 1,000 people migrated to safe places while administration maintained a vigil in Ganga upstream localities. In Ballia, villages are getting marooned because of flooding of Ganga’s tributary, Tons (Tamsa) river.The river submerged all ghat steps and their upper platforms, leaving less space for bathing at ghats like Dashaswamedh, where even river police outpost is submerged. As limited space was available for pyres at Manikarnika Ghat, cremations were taking place in the street leading to Harishchandra Ghat and people funeral processions waited for hours to get a vacant site. Ganga Aarti was performed on top level of the buildings by organisers. According to the Central Water Commission’s daily bulletin, the water level of the Ganga reached 70.14 metres by Sunday afternoon against the warning level of 70.26 meters, while the danger mark is at 71.26 meters. The record of the maximum water level in Varanasi was 73.90 meters in 1978. The trend of increase was maintained at Phaphamau, although the water level of the river became stable at Mirzapur in the upstream after reaching one meter below the warning level of 76.72 metres. In Ballia, the river was flowing at 60.39 meters against the danger level of 57.61 meters, while in Ghazipur, it reached close to the warning level of 59.12 meters. The record of the maximum water level was recorded as 60.39 meters in August 2016 in Ballia. In Varanasi, the floodwater affected only Rampur Dhab village of Tehsil Sadar in rural areas, but in city area, the number of localities where floodwaters entered increased from six to eight, including Salarpur, Saraiya, Nakkighat, Dhelwariya, Daniyalpur, and Hukulganj, as well as areas in Badi Bazar and Konia localities along Varuna. The entry of overflowing Ganga is flooding localities on the banks of Varuna.According to district administration’s report, number of families affected by flood in these localities increased to 317 from 65 as on Saturday. As many as 1,473 persons from these families shifted from low-lying areas on Varuna banks and 672 of them reached flood relief camps, while 801 moved to other areas. By Saturday, seven of 46 flood relief camps were operational, but on Sunday, four more camps were operationalised. The district administration also intensified distribution of lunch packets, fruits, milk packets and ORS while medical teams treated the ailing persons. Though Ganga was flowing 1 meter above danger mark, problems were created mainly by its tributary, the Tons river, as it started marooning localities mainly in Chitbadagaon municipal area and nearby villages. The overflowing river’s water impacted many roads, homes and daily life and routine. The main road connecting the municipal area to villages like Nagwa Gai, Akhtiyarpur, Bibipur, Barhwalia, Tikri and Majurpur is submerged, halting public movement. The renowned religious site Madho Brahma Baba’s location is also surrounded by water, completely stopping worship activities there.
