4 days Ago By Rajiv Mani
Prayagraj: The flood situation has worsened in the district as the water level of both the Ganga and Yamuna has increased at all three measuring points. The water level in both rivers Ganga and Yamuna is just around a metre away from the danger mark of 84.734 metres.
As floodwater has entered several low-lying areas, a team of NDRF is shifting several flood-affected people to safer places. The level of water is increasing in both rivers at a rate of over 4 cm to 7 cm every two hours. The level of water in river Ganga at Phaphamau (at 4 pm) was recorded at 83.
92 metres. Likewise, at Chhatnaag, Ganga was flowing at 83.14 metres.
Similarly, Yamuna at Naini was flowing at 83.78 metres. The flood control department is keeping a close watch as it fears a further increase in water in the next 24 hours.
"Tributaries of Yamuna have become stable, which gives a sigh of relief, but still, we have to be watchful for the next 24 hours as it is only from Monday that water may start receding at Prayagraj and further downstream," said an official of the flood control department. Meanwhile, floodwater has entered the low-lying areas of Phaphamau, Chhota Baghada, Rajapur, Bali Goan, Ashok Nagar, and the Kachhari area of the city. Water started entering many houses of the colony located near Nagvasuki in Daraganj from Saturday evening.
Other houses in the low-lying area are also under the grip of floodwater. Due to the rising water level of Ganga, people living on the banks of the drain in Rajapur, Salori, Shankarghat, Rasulabad, and Mehandouri have started collecting their belongings. Water has started reaching the drains of these localities slowly.
People of Kareli and Karelabagh on the banks of Sasur Khaderi are also scared. The situation is alarming in several of the localities of Phaphamau situated on the banks of Ganga. The NDRF team was roped in to provide assistance to the locals trapped in the flood.
NDRF provided food packets and other essential items. Meanwhile, the district administration has activated four flood relief camps in the city. These include Annie Besant School, where around 200 people have arrived, Mehboob Ali Inter College, where over 295 people have taken refuge, and Rishikul School in Rajapur, where over 195 people have come.
District administration has activated seven flood relief camp in the city wherein 1130 individuals of 254 families have taken refuge. Likewise, the flood relief camp at New Cant has also been activated. "We had already made all the preparations from our side, and all the facilities, including food, medical, potable water, and essential items, are being provided to the people who have come to the flood relief camps," said ADM finance and revenue, Vinay Singh.
He further informed that a few families who were stuck in floodwater in the Bagada area were rescued by the forces on Sunday evening after they called for help. "We would like to assure everyone that they will be given the best of facilities in the flood relief camps, and police would patrol the flood-affected localities and ensure that their belongings remain safe. As such, people should not delay and come to relief camps before getting stuck in floodwater," said Singh.
Owing to the alarming situation, apart from one team each of NDRF and SDRF, teams of water police, PAC, and private divers have been deployed. Boatmen too have also been asked to be ready. Engineers of the Irrigation department say that owing to the discharge of water in tributaries and dams upstream of both Ganga and Yamuna, the water level of Ganga-Yamuna is nearing the danger mark.
However, things can improve by Monday evening if there is no further rain in MP, Rajasthan, and the Himalayan region..
