Prayagraj: Twin rivers — Ganga and Yamuna — continued to recede on Sunday, giving relief from flood threats, but the fear of the spread of diseases looms large in low-lying areas as receding water leaves filth, mud and foul smell.Residents of Baghara, Chota Baghara, Daraganj, Ganga Nagar, Rasoolabad, Chilla and Newada have demanded a sanitation drive in view of unhygienic conditions left behind by the receding flood water.Ajay Kumar, a resident of Chota Baghara, said, “We are all happy to know that water is receding but the post-flood conditions are giving us sleepless nights. My family members are apprehensive and want the district authorities to take up adequate sanitation in the area to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.”A majority of people living in low-lying areas seek proper cleanliness in flood-hit areas by the health and district authorities.“You can’t imagine the condition of a house after flood water has reached its doorstep. It would be difficult to stay in the house with filth left by the receding flood water,” they said.At noon, the water levels of Ganga at Phaphamau and Chatnag were receding by 4 and 1 cm per hour, respectively, in the past four hours, while Yamuna’s water was stable at Naini.At 8 am, the water levels of Ganga at Phaphamau and Chatnag were receding by 46 and 17 cm per hour and were recorded at 82.26 metres and 81.42 metres, respectively. At Naini, Yamuna was flowing at 81.95 metres. The danger mark for both the rivers is 84.73 metres.Residents said the fear of flood-like conditions has undoubtedly ebbed for now but the threat of an epidemic in low-lying areas continues. This year, a majority of low-lying areas did not face floods but the incessant rains and sultry weather conditions have left them in a catch-22 situation.Water accumulated in localities can lead to the spread of water-borne communicable diseases like typhoid, cholera and hepatitis there.A team of district officials interacted with the families in low-lying areas and at one of the relief camps and assured them of a cleaning exercise, round-the-clock sanitation and the availability of daily items.
