Rising Waters and Displacement

The Ganga river in Varanasi has crossed its warning mark, reaching 70.29 metres against the warning level of 70.26 metres, according to the Central Water Commission. The danger level stands at 71.26 metres, while the highest recorded flood level is 73.90 metres. The water is rising at about 2 centimetres per hour, as reported by Patrika News.

In response, the district administration has suspended all boat operations on the Ganga and stepped up monitoring of flood-affected areas, officials confirmed. Authorities have urged devotees and residents to avoid the ghats and areas with strong currents.

Around 11 localities and wards in the district have been partially affected by flooding, officials said. The Varuna river's flooding has affected 328 families comprising 1,388 people, according to The Economic Times and The New Indian Express. However, Patrika News reports that 361 families, totalling 1,574 people, have left their homes and taken shelter in relief camps or with relatives. The exact number of displaced persons varies between these reports.

Thirteen relief camps have been set up in the district, where 935 people from 219 families are currently staying, officials said. The administration has arranged for clean food and water to be provided three to four times a day, and a team of doctors has been deployed to care for children and the elderly, as per Patrika News.

Impact on Ghats and Riverside Areas

Floodwater has entered several riverside localities, including Sama Ghat and Salarpur, according to Patrika News. The surge has submerged all the major ghats of Kashi. At Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats, rising water has forced cremations to be conducted on rooftops and in lanes, with people using boats to navigate waterlogged streets and carrying bodies to higher ground. The Subah-e-Banaras stage at Assi Ghat has also been fully submerged.

The Naad and Gomti rivers have also gone into spate following the Ganga's rise, cutting off the road from Dharhara to Bela. Farmland in the Dhab area and low-lying fields along the Sota river in Gobarha, Rampur, and Mustafabad has been submerged, causing heavy losses for farmers whose vegetable, flower, and paddy crops were planted there.

Official Response and Forecast

District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar has directed officials to remain on alert, maintain surveillance, and ensure immediate evacuation of people to safe locations when required, officials said. Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal has instructed police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to maintain continuous vigil and act promptly in emergencies.

The district administration has deployed NDRF and water police teams to move affected families to safer locations, and separate arrangements have been made for those in relief camps. Officials said an assessment of flood damage is underway, and appropriate compensation will be provided to those affected.

According to the Meteorological Department at Banaras Hindu University, heavy rain is expected in Kashi over the next two days, which could add to residents' difficulties. Several families have been living in relief camps for the past 15 days after water entered their homes, Patrika News reported.