UP's Ballia battered by floods, woes swell with rain, thunderstorm

VARANASI/ALLAHABAD: As floods continued to ravage Ballia on Tuesday, the surging Ganga crossed danger mark at Phaphamau in Allahabad and was flowing close to the red mark in Varanasi.
Heavy rain and thunderstorm in east UP districts on Tuesday made the situation worse, officials said.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas between Nauranga and Dubey Chhapra in Ballia where water had breached a ring dam inundating four villages on Monday.
The CM distributed flood relief articles among the people and issued directives to officials. Ballia district magistrate, Bhavani Singh Khangarot, said, "Floodwater has entered eight villages due to which population of over 25,000 has been affected. We have set up flood relief camps and shelter homes in schools."
According to Central Water Commission's report, the level of Ganga in Ballia was recorded at 59.28m, nearly two metres above the danger mark of 57.61m. In Varanasi, Ganga is flowing at 71.12m, just about touching the 71.26m red mark.
At Phaphamau in Allahabad, Ganga crossed the danger mark of 84.73m and is flowing at 84.74m.
In Varanasi, the swollen river continued to engulf more residential areas. ADM (finance and revenue) and nodal officer for flood, Satish Pal, said, "At least 2,235 people have taken shelter in relief camps in Konia and adjoining areas. NDRF and PAC flood units are carrying out relief and rescue operations."
Several ministers also visited the flood-affected areas of Varanasi to take stock of the situation.
However, the swollen river failed to deter people from performing Pitra Paksha rituals at Varanasi ghats and taking holy dip in the Ganga. In Allahabad, all the eight tehsils were put on high alert as Ganga and Yamuna rivers continued to rise.
Irrigation department officials said the Yamuna was all set to swell further as over 26 lakh cusec of water has been released in river Chambal.