Uttar Pradesh floods: Beyond deluge, haunting challenges grip Prayagraj and Varanasi residents 

Varanasi floods

Prayagraj and Varanasi are once again wrestling with the devastating effects of flooding, as rivers surge and inundate large parts of both cities. Beyond the immediate deluge, residents face a haunting aftermath that brings serious health risks, dangerous wildlife encounters and heavy economic burdens.

A report in TOI highlighted how in Prayagraj’s Chota Baghada locality, retired professional Ramakant Tripathi’s family returned to their three-storey home only to find the ground floor harbouring a decayed body displaced by floodwaters. This grim discovery underscores a recurring nightmare for flood-hit communities here.

Tripathi was cited by TOI as saying that each year, as waters subside, residents brace themselves for a wave of new dangers: “A few times, the situation is exacerbated by the presence of bodies/carcasses. We also face snakes and dangerous insects that invade our homes.”

Mohd Shabi, a teacher in Kareli, described how his family of eight had to abandon their flooded house and seek shelter with relatives, compelled to restart their lives from scratch after waters breached their walls and displaced furniture.

While government teams conduct fogging and anti-larval drives, stagnant floodwaters raise fears of a surge in water-borne diseases. Ragini Ratan, an IT professional visiting Kashi, warned TOI that malaria, dengue and chikungunya thrive in such conditions.

The financial toll is equally devastating. Residents like Dhirendra Narayan face recurring expenses like replacing doors, repainting walls and repairing water-damaged tiles. Shopkeeper Gyan Chand was cited by TOI as saying that many families exhaust their savings just to restore their homes.

Ankit Srivastav, a businessman near Shri Nagvasuki Mandir, highlighted the terror of snakes entering homes, forcing families to stay awake at night in fear. Meanwhile, Fazal Khan, a corporator in the Karamat Ki Chowki area, where 21,000 homes were inundated, said that clearing carcasses, dead fish and snakes is often more challenging than the floods themselves. He has arranged food deliveries by boat to stranded families.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Team 11 have been widely praised for their rescue operations. Locals have confirmed that aid was reaching affected areas. UP Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, overseeing relief efforts in Prayagraj, assured continued support.