All flood posts operationalised in dist as Ganga rises alarmingly

Varanasi: Continuing to rise sharply, the water level of the river Ganga started inching closer to the danger mark on Tuesday, prompting officials to operationalise all flood posts in the district.
Further rise of over a metre in the past 24 hours not only started flooding its tributary Varuna river, but the sites for cremation at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats as well as daily Ganga Aarti were also changed. Boat operations came to a halt in the river completely from Tuesday morning while flood posts in the districts were made operational by the district administration.
As per the daily flood report of the Central Water Commission’s middle Ganga division, water level in the Ganga had crossed 67.54 metre mark and reached close to the warning level of 70.26 metre while the danger mark is at 71.26 metre.
In Ballia, the water level of the Ganga had reached close to the danger mark of 57.61 metre and was flowing at 57.08 metre. As per CWC forecast, the river will cross the danger mark in Ballia by Wednesday morning. The rising trend was maintained in Ghazipur where water level of the river was 60.86 metre against the danger mark of 63.10 metre.
Swinging into action, Varanasi additional police commissioner (law and order) Anil Kumar Singh issued prohibitory orders under section 144 to ban boat operations in river Ganga in Varanasi police commissionerate area for the period of 15 days.
Municipal commissioner Pranay Singh also declared the Ganga as “no boating zone” under Varanasi Municipal Corporation limits till the water level of the river normalises.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said that all flood posts in the district had been made operational while the officials concerned have also been asked to start preparations for beginning flood relief camps in case of further rise in water level and marooning of villages or residential areas.
“The officials have been asked to ensure proper sanitation, clean beds, food, medicines and all other essential services for people, who will take shelter in flood relief camps. The officials were also asked to continuously monitor the swollen river,” he added.
The rising Ganga has already submerged the ghat steps ending interconnectivity of ghats since July 28, problems in conducting cremation at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats also started increasing as platforms at downstairs have been submerged and people reaching there to cremate bodies are bound to use limited space at upper platforms.