‘Stay and take blessings’: Prayagraj flood victim quips at UP minister who said ‘Ganga touching your feet’

People move to safer places after the water level of river Ganga rose creating a flood-like situation at Daraganj, in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. (Image: PTI)

Amid flood-like situation in the state, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad’s visit to the affected area in Kanpur Dehat sparked a controversy.

According to reports, Nishad purportedly told local residents that they are “Ganga’s children” and thus, the “Ganga river reaches your doorstep to clean your feet and this would take you directly to heaven”.

He made the remarks when the flood victims complained that they had lost their homes and had nowhere to go.

“Ganga Maiya to apne putron ke pair dhone aati hain…unke darshan se putra seedhe swarg jata hai…ye Virodhi log aapko ulta padhate hain’’ (Mother Ganga comes to wash the feet of its sons… the sons will go to heavens merely by its 'darshan'…the opposition parties misinform you),” Nishad was heard telling the residents in Bhognipur area in a video that surfaced on social media.

कानपुर देहात------

वाह मंत्री जी गजब तरीका निकालेव हो भोले भाले ग्रामीणों को चुप कराने का,,,,

बाढ़ ने गांवों में इस कदर तबाही मचाई है गांव वालो चैन सुकून सब खत्म हो गया तो माननीय जी कह रहे ""गंगा मैया गंगा पुत्रो का पैर धुलने आती है""आदमी सीधा स्वर्ग जाता""
मंत्री जी यहाँ गांव… pic.twitter.com/oqIasyyikX

— राम दीक्षित/Ram Dixit (@RamDixi72228341) August 4, 2025

Incessant rainfall in Uttar Pradesh  led to flood-like situation in 13 districts of the state, while major rivers like Ganga, Yamuna and Betwa are flowing above the danger mark at several places, officials said in Varanasi on Monday.

While Ganga is flowing above the danger mark in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur and Ballia, Yamuna is above the red mark in Auraiya, Kalpi, Hamipur, Prayagraj and Banda, according to a report from the relief commissioner’s office.

The famed Ganga ‘aarti’ at the Dashashwamedh ghat is now being conducted on rooftops, while cremations at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats are being performed on elevated platforms, according to The Hindu.