On Saturday, the Ganga reached dangerous levels in Varanasi, inundating many agricultural and residential areas along the holy river and its tributaries. According to the district administration, floods in Ganga and its tributary Varuna have affected 18 municipal wards and more than 80 villages in the district, and 228.69 hectares of crops have been damaged.
According to the Central Water Commission, the Ganga's water level crossed the danger mark of 71.26 metres on Saturday and reached 71.50 metres by 10 a.m. Floods have affected 68 villages in Varanasi Sadar, according to Sud-divisional magistrate (Sadar) Hansika Dixit, and 10,104 flood victims have been relocated to 18 relief camps.
The Varanasi district is divided into three tehsils: Sadar, Pindra, and Rajatalab. The SDM stated that all necessary arrangements have been made to provide food and other necessities, and that district administration teams are constantly patrolling the affected areas to assist the trapped people.
According to the SDM, in addition to relief materials and medical services, "dignity kits" containing sanitary kits, soap, and other items are being distributed to women. Nandlal, a resident of Nagwa, told PTI that flood water had entered his house and that he had relocated his family and valuables to the homes of relatives in a safer area, while taking refuge in a nearby house at a height.
He was also concerned about the increased risk of disease caused by flood waters. Rajan, a resident of Rajatalab tehsil's Parshupur, told that flood water had entered his village's agriculture fields. "Approximately 15 bighas of Parshupur village's paddy crop have been submerged in water." "The crop will be ruined if water remains in the fields for a few days," he predicted.
According to SDM Rajatalab Girish Chandra Dwivedi, the situation in Rajatalab tehsil is currently under control. "Water has submerged some crops." If the Ganga's water level begins to fall in a few days, the water will drain out of the field and the crop will not be harmed," he explained.
Six relief camps have been established in the Rajatalab tehsil area, but no one is currently residing there, he said. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma and Commissioner Deepak Agarwal to inquire about the situation in his constituency.
According to a statement issued by the district administration on Friday, he also asked officials to provide all possible assistance to people living in relief camps and directed them to contact the PMO directly if necessary. Swatantra Dev Singh, state minister for Jal Shakti and in charge of the Varanasi Division, arrived here on Friday and visited the relief camps in Saraiya and Nakhi Ghat.
He also met flood-affected residents who were still living in their homes after travelling from Nakhighat in an NDRF motor boat. According to officials, 40 relief camps are being set up in the district for flood victims.
According to Medical Officer Sandeep Chaudhary, 40 medical teams have been formed to provide medical assistance in flood-affected areas. The teams have been given ORS packets and chlorine tablets, as well as essential medicines. All government hospitals have an adequate supply of medicines, he added.
