Prayagraj: Fluctuating water levels in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are triggering panic among hundreds of families living in the city’s low-lying areas. While the water levels of both rivers showed a declining trend at Naini and Chhatnag on Friday, the Ganga rose by 11 cm over the past 24 hours at Phaphamau.Residents said they have packed their belongings twice in anticipation of possible flooding after noticing the rise in the rivers’ water levels. Although Prayagraj has not witnessed major flooding this year, this is the third occasion when authorities have recorded alternating rising and receding trends in the twin rivers.On Friday morning, the water levels of the Ganga and Yamuna at Chhatnag and Naini receded by 12cm each, standing at 81.01m and 81.48m, respectively. In contrast, the Ganga at Phaphamau rose by 12 cm to reach 81.99m.By noon, a similar trend continued. The Ganga’s water level was recorded at 82.03m at Phaphamau and 80.97m at Chhatnag, while the Yamuna stood at 81.42m at Naini.Several low-lying localities along the banks of the Ganga, including Rajapur, Baghara and Chota Baghara, as well as villages in Meja and Karchhana, have been grappling with flood-like conditions due to fluctuating water levels in the Ganga, Yamuna and Tons rivers. Although conditions have improved in recent days, residents said the crisis is far from over.With water levels rising again, the culvert on the Jhunsi-Garapur road near Badra village has once again been affected. During the recent surge, residents were forced to commute through the floodwaters.Although water had receded from the culvert and traffic resumed on Tuesday morning, the problem appears to be resurfacing. Residents of several villages, including Badra, Sonauti, Dholbajwa, Ibrahimpur and Bahadurpur Kachhar, are facing difficulties following the latest rise in water levels.
