Flood alert in Prayagraj: Ganga, Yamuna may breach danger mark amid heavy rainfall

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With heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, authorities in Prayagraj have issued the third flood alert this month. The irrigation department has warned that water levels in both rivers are rising rapidly and may breach the danger mark by August 2, The Hindustan Times reported.

Data from the Flood Control Room shows that floods in the region typically occur around this time every year. The danger level for the Ganga is marked at 83.73 metres, which is expected to be crossed within the next couple of days if the trend continues.

Vinita Singh, Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) and head of the district’s Flood Relief Cell, confirmed that due to the sharp rise in river levels over the past 48 hours, flood rescue teams and relief workers have been placed on high alert.

On Wednesday itself, floodwaters entered Dehli Bhagesar village in Karchana as well as parts of Koraon and the trans-Ganga regions. More than a dozen boats were deployed in these areas to rescue stranded residents.

To ensure public safety, 95 flood relief camps have been established across eight tehsils considered sensitive based on past flood experiences. These camps are located in: Sadar (26), Karchana (20), Phulpur (13), Meja (11), Bara (9), Soraon (7), Handia (6), and Koraon (3).

R K Singh, Executive Engineer of the irrigation department, explained that recent rainfall in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh has contributed to the Ganga rising significantly, by as much as 103 cm on Tuesday alone.

“The level of Ganga increased 103 cm on Tuesday, which was an outcome of heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand and UP with water flowing into Ganga from Tehri, Haridwar, Narora, Bijnore and Kanpur up to Prayagraj. Similarly, rise in water level of Yamuna was due to heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh causing rise in water level of Ken and Betua rivers. These two rivers joined Yamuna in Banda, casting its effects on the river in Prayagraj,” Singh was quoted by HT as saying.

By Wednesday morning, large volumes of water were released from various barrages, i.e., 99,162 cusecs from Haridwar, 46,019 cusecs from Narora, and 62,138 cusecs from Kanpur. At Phaphamau, Ganga’s level stood at 81.88 metres, and at Chhatnag, it was 81.63 metres. The Yamuna in Naini was measured at 82.22 metres.

The district administration has issued three emergency helpline numbers, 0532-2642577, 0532-2642587, and 1077, for citizens to call in case of any flood-related emergency.