Fears of flood damage in UP and Uttarakhand have been sharpened by the deluge in the north. Water from the Ganga and Yamuna is making its way into homes in lower elevations. With popular riverfronts at a standstill, administrations are moving to head off any trouble and have sent emergency teams to the more exposed banks.
Rivers swell across UP and Uttarakhand
Residents in Prayagraj are being unsettled as water from the two rivers has moved into riverside settlements in Uttar Pradesh, leaving response teams on a permanent footing. According to officials, the danger is very much alive so long as the upstream catchments keep feeding the twin rivers.
There is strain in Varanasi as well. The steady climb of the Ganga has put an end to the usual order of things at the key ghats, submerging some low-lying parts and interrupting religious observances and day-to-day life.
Localised surges intensify risk
A case in point is Dehradun, where overnight showers caused the Tamasa to run through the grounds of the old Shri Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple. It is a reminder to authorities of how fast a small tributary can build up and spread peril throughout the basin.
Schools shut in Dehradun under Orange alert
In Dehradun, the district has called for a one-day shutdown of all government, private and non-government schools from Class 1 to 12, as well as Anganwadi centres, on Tuesday. The call was made in light of forecasts calling for very heavy rain and lightning.
Acting as chair of the District Disaster Management Authority, the District Magistrate made it an official precautionary measure on 31 August following the Orange alert. He has left no room for doubt with the Chief Education Officer and District Programme Officer to see that the order is followed.
Rishikesh on watch, below danger mark
The Ganga has been pushed higher in Rishikesh by unrelenting rain in the Garhwal hills but has not yet breached the warning mark. The current at Triveni Ghat is no joke, yet the Central Water Commission says the readings are normal and within safe limits.
Nevertheless, you will find SDRF, Water Police and Disaster Relief units in position at Muni Ki Reti, Lakshman Jhula and elsewhere in Rishikesh to stave off any mishaps as the water picks up speed. Loudspeakers are in use to advise tourists, residents and devotees to be careful at the river’s edge.
Why the situation matters now
What is happening here is a demonstration of how persistent rain upstream can bring a river system to the brink without the major cities having to be in the path of the storm. When there are sudden surges, ghats can be overwhelmed and neighbourhoods cut off, which is why enforcement and early notice are so important.
What authorities are doing now
To keep order and hold the line on risk, officials in the districts have put in place the following:
– A one-day holiday for Anganwadis and Classes 1 to 12
– An order put out on 31 August in response to the Orange alert
– Deployment of SDRF, Water Police and Relief Teams
– Warnings broadcast over loudspeakers at the main ghats
– Response teams on standby in Prayagraj
– Ongoing monitoring by the Central Water Commission in Rishikesh
What comes next
As long as the rain holds in the upper reaches, local administrations will be monitoring the situation around the clock. Their focus is on limiting the crowds on the riverfront and stepping in should the levels go up, while also ensuring people do not get too close to the water.
Both the Ganga and Yamuna are running high and a brief spell of hard rain can make for quick changes. Officials are asking that visitors and locals respect the restrictions and stay off the banks where they have been warned to until things calm down.
