Uttar Pradesh: Ganga, Yamuna receding rapidly, people in flood relief camps preparing to return home

PRAYAGRAJ: With the Ganga and the Yamuna both receding rapidly, fear of the worst flood situation among city residents and officials is now fading away.
Since yesterday, water level of both the rivers had started receding but at a very slow pace. However, since Friday morning, the decrease in water level picked up pace. At 4pm, Ganga at Phaphamau was receding at a rate of 3 cm, and at Chhatnag, it was receding at a rate of 4 cm per hour. Yamuna was receding at a rate of 5 cm per hour. In fact, Ganga at Chhatnag is now flowing below the danger mark of 84.73 m.
At 4 pm, Ganga was flowing at 85.25 m at Phaphamau, and at 84.29 m at Chhatnag. At the same time, Yamuna was flowing at 84.98 m at Naini.
Now with the rapid decrease in water level, locals have breathed a sigh of relief. Those staying in the flood relief camps have started preparing to return to their homes. Those who have moved to the first floor of their houses have started contacting labourers and painters to get their ground floors restored.
“Since the entire ground floor of my house is submerged in flood water, I have to clean it up first and then apply fresh paint before moving back,” said Dharmendra Kanojia, resident of Chhota Bagdha locality.
The district administration and teams of NDRF visited several flood-affected localities on Friday. “We distributed puffed rice, drinking water, biscuits and other eatables to the stranded people in flooded localities,” said Dinkar Tripathi, inspector at NDRF.

“Both the rivers have started receding, and we believe that Yamuna too, like Ganga at Chhatnag, would come down below the danger mark by Friday night. Ganga at Phaphamau too would climb down the danger mark by Saturday, and the receding trend would continue in the coming days,” said executive engineer of irrigation department, Brijesh Kumar Singh.