The district administration said that 18 municipal wards and over 80 villages have been affected by the floods in the Ganga and its tributary Varuna in the district.
The district administration said that 18 municipal wards and over 80 villages have been affected by the floods in the Ganga and its tributary Varuna in the district.
The water level of the Ganges crossed the danger mark in Varanasi on August 27, submerging several agricultural and residential areas along the banks of the holy river and its tributaries.
In a statement, the district administration said that 18 municipal wards and more than 80 villages have been affected by floods in the Ganga and its tributary Varuna in the district and 228.69 hectares of crops have been damaged in the district.
According to the Central Water Commission, the water level of Ganga crossed the danger mark of 71.26 meters and reached 71.50 meters till 10 am on Saturday.
Sood Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Hansika Dixit said that 68 villages of Varanasi Sadar have been affected by the floods and 10,104 flood victims have been shifted to 18 relief camps.
There are three tehsils in Varanasi district – Sadar, Pindra and Rajatalab. The SDM said that all necessary arrangements have been made to provide food and other necessities, the district administration teams are continuously patrolling the affected areas to help the stranded people.
The SDM said that along with relief material and medical facilities, “dignity kits” consisting of sanitary kits as well as soap etc. are also being distributed to the women.
People carry the body of their family member for cremation in a boat on the terrace of Manikarnika Ghat after the ghat was waterlogged due to the spate of river Ganga in Varanasi. , photo credit: PTI
Nandlal, a resident of Nagwa told PTI That the flood waters have entered their house and they have shifted their family members and valuables to a safe place in their relatives’ homes while they have taken shelter in a nearby house situated at a high altitude.
He feared that the risk of diseases has also increased due to the flood waters. Rajan, a resident of Parshupur of Rajatalab tehsil, told PTI That the flood waters have entered the fields of their village.
He feared that about 15 bighas of paddy crop of Parashupur village has been submerged in water. If there is water in the fields for a few days, then the crop will be spoiled. According to SDM Rajatalab Girish Chandra Dwivedi, the situation in Rajatalab tehsil is currently under control.
“Some crops have submerged in water. If the water level of the Ganga starts receding in a few days, the water will drain out of the field and the crop will not suffer,” he said. He said that six relief camps have been set up in Rajatalab tehsil area, but now no one is living there.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is an MP from Varanasi, had called District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma and Commissioner Deepak Agarwal on Thursday and inquired about the situation in their constituency.
A statement issued by the district administration on Friday said that they had asked the officials to provide all possible help to the people living in relief camps and directed to contact the PMO directly if needed.
Swatantra Dev Singh, Minister of State for Jal Shakti and in-charge of Varanasi Division, reached Varanasi on Friday and visited relief camps at Saraiya and Nakhi Ghat.
He also traveled from Nakhighat in NDRF motor boat and met the flood affected people living in their homes. “A total of 40 relief camps are being set up for the flood-affected people in the district,” officials said.
Medical Officer Sandeep Choudhary said that 40 medical teams have been formed to provide medical assistance in the flood-affected areas.
“Oral rehydration solution packets and chlorine tablets have been provided to the teams along with essential medicines. Medicines are available in sufficient quantity in all government hospitals.