Prayagraj Drowns: Unrelenting Floods Leave Lakhs Stranded, Villages Submerged, and Lives Disrupted
The city of Prayagraj is in crisis. Torrential and uninterrupted rainfall over the past several days has brought life to a complete standstill, especially in low-lying regions.
The deluge has impacted over five lakh residents, leaving them either stranded in submerged homes or displaced to flood relief camps across the district. Inundation from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, both of which have been rising dangerously for over a week now, has triggered a humanitarian emergency in the region.
Families Trapped, No Way Out
Amzad Khan, a retired government employee, has been trapped with his eleven family members in their home in Kareli since Sunday afternoon, when floodwaters suddenly surged into the area. With chest-deep water inside residential zones, any attempt to evacuate vulnerable family members, especially children and elderly women, has become virtually impossible.
Other areas like Salori, Nevada, and Beli Kachar are suffering equally. Streets have vanished under water. Electricity is cut. Drinking water is scarce.
In some neighbourhoods, people have climbed to their balconies, helplessly looking over waterlogged streets and desperately waiting for aid. Many have been filming their plight and sharing it online, hoping their voices reach someone in power.
An official, acknowledging the distress, remarked: No doubt the administration is working hard, but it’s just not possible to reach every household individually in such a widespread crisis.”
Belongings Destroyed, Hopes Drenched
The extent of damage is staggering. For many residents, floodwaters have entered their homes up to the first floor, ruining furniture, electrical appliances, food supplies, and essential documents.
Ravindra Yadav, a resident of Salori, is now taking refuge in a relief centre at Beli with eight of his family members, including three young children. He reported that most of their household items are now completely unusable due to water damage. We left home with whatever we could carry. The rest is gone,” he said, trying to stay hopeful.
Water Levels Breach Dangerous Marks
Both the Ganga and Yamuna rivers continue to swell for the eighth consecutive day, creating havoc across urban and rural areas alike. On Monday, both rivers crossed the 86-metre mark, a level considered significantly above the danger threshold.
- At Phaphamau, the Ganga was recorded at 86.11 metres
- At Naini, the Yamuna touched 86.12 metres
- At Chatnag, Ganga’s water stood at 85.41 metres
Disturbingly, official data indicates a 50-metre rise in just 24 hours at several observation points—an unprecedented rate of increase. As a precautionary measure, all schools in the district have been ordered to remain closed until August 7.
Administrative Response and Government Visits
Despite the chaos, the administration is actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya personally visited flood-hit areas and inspected multiple relief centres on Monday. He assured residents of continued support and speedy aid distribution.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to arrive in Prayagraj on Tuesday, intending to assess the disaster’s magnitude firsthand and issue immediate directives for further action.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma reported that the inflow into both rivers has now slowed slightly. However, the situation remains grim, with large swathes of the district still submerged.
Scale of the Flood: 290 Villages Affected
According to district administration data:
- 290 villages across eight tehsils—including Soraon, Phulpur, Karchana, Meja, Bara, Handia, and Koraon—are severely affected.
- Over 62 urban localities in Prayagraj are waterlogged.
- 237 non-mechanised boats and 2 mechanised boats are being deployed for evacuations and relief supply deliveries.
- 8,386 people from 1,938 families have already been relocated to 97 flood relief camps established across the district.
Rainfall Worsens Crisis
The situation has been exacerbated by relentless rainfall for three consecutive days. According to the India Meteorological Department, Prayagraj has recorded its highest rainfall for July in the past three years. From July 1 to August 4, the district averaged 14 mm rainfall per day, with the highest single-day rainfall of 61.8 mm recorded on July 17.
Historical Context: A City Prone to Devastation
Prayagraj is no stranger to floods, having witnessed six major floods in the last 70 years. The worst deluge was in 1978, when:
- The Ganga surged to 88.39 metres
- The Yamuna reached 87.99 metres
Both were well above the danger mark pegged at 84.73 metres
While current levels have yet to surpass these historical highs, the rapid pace of water rise and widespread urban flooding has raised alarms of a potential repeat of the 1978 catastrophe.
A State in Waiting
As thousands continue to stare at submerged homes, destroyed belongings, and uncertain futures, the glaring gaps in infrastructure, urban planning, and early warning systems are once again under the spotlight. While the administration is responding with all available resources, the scale of devastation has outpaced the system’s current capacity.
In the face of nature’s fury, Prayagraj waits—not just for the waters to recede, but for long-term, sustainable solutions that can withstand the climate unpredictability of the future.
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