Prayagraj: Ganga and Yamuna rivers witnessed a receding trend on Wednesday, offering much-needed relief to the district administration and residents of low-lying areas. However, uncertainty continues among residents after water levels rose and fell more than four times during the current monsoon season.Water levels of both rivers declined at all three monitoring stations, Phaphamau, Chhatnag and Naini, on Wednesday afternoon.Although neither river crossed the danger mark this year, repeated fluctuations in water levels kept residents on edge.Flood department officials said Ganga at Phaphamau was rising during the morning hours but began receding after noon.At 8 am, the water level of Ganga stood at 80.78 metres at Phaphamau and 79.98 metres at Chhatnag. By noon, the levels had dipped to 80.77 metres and 79.90 metres, respectively.Yamuna at Naini showed a steady falling trend. Its water level declined from 80.19 metres at 8 am to 80.08 metres at noon.Ramji, a resident of Chota Baghara, said the fluctuating river levels had created uncertainty among people living in vulnerable areas.“Whenever the rivers show a rising trend, we have to prepare for possible flooding in low-lying localities. Falling water levels bring relief, but the uncertainty remains,” he said.Residents of Daraganj echoed similar concerns, saying that while the receding levels were encouraging, repeated rises and falls in the rivers constantly kept them on alert.Last year, floods affected thousands of people in over 22 localities, forcing more than 600 families to shift to relief camps.Officials of the flood control department said Yamuna at Naini and Ganga at Chhatnag were receding rapidly, while Ganga at Phaphamau was falling at a slower pace. Both rivers are currently flowing around four metres below the danger mark of 84.734 metres.
