Heavy Rains in Uttar Pradesh Cause Ganga River to Rise, Submerging Ghats in Varanasi
Heavy rains in Uttar Pradesh have led to the water levels in the Ganga River rising and submerging Ghats in Varanasi on Thursday morning.
Pilgrims Affected
Anand, a pilgrim from Delhi, said that due to heavy rains, he was not able to visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple and receive the blessings of Lord Shiva. He mentioned, “I had come here from Delhi to visit the temple and take the blessings. However, it’s been raining here a lot and we have been asked not to go out. Yesterday, a house had collapsed and now the Ghats have submerged here.”
Impact on Residents
Although the river is still flowing below the danger mark, the water has entered houses in the Baghada, Salori, and Rajapur areas of Varanasi. Visuals from Prayagraj also emerged where people were seen using boats to commute. Shyam Pandey, a resident of Prayagraj, said, “The situation in Prayagraj has been bad. The rising water levels in the Ganga have led to waterlogging and water entering our houses. Our daily life activities have come to a halt.”
Shukla, another resident, said, “We are facing issues because of the rising water levels. We have been using boats to commute to places. The children are not able to go to school as well.”
Rising Water Levels
The water level in the Ganga River rose due to incessant heavy rain in hilly areas and water from dams being released in many places. According to the Central Water Commission report, the water level of the Ganga River has been rising at the rate of four centimeters per hour and will further rise in the coming days. The connectivity between the Ghats of Ganga has been broken due to the rise in water level. Water has also been surging in the temples on the banks of Ganga. The venue of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi has been changed and is now performed on the rooftops.
Doubts Revealed
Uttar Pradesh -: Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.
Ganga River -: The Ganga River is one of the longest and most important rivers in India. It is considered very holy by Hindus.
Ghats -: Ghats are steps leading down to a river, often used for bathing and religious ceremonies. In Varanasi, they are very famous.
Varanasi -: Varanasi is a city in Uttar Pradesh, known for its temples and ghats along the Ganga River. It is a major religious hub for Hindus.
Pilgrims -: Pilgrims are people who travel to a holy place for religious reasons. In this case, they are visiting Varanasi.
Kashi Vishwanath temple -: The Kashi Vishwanath temple is a famous Hindu temple in Varanasi dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Prayagraj -: Prayagraj, also known as Allahabad, is another city in Uttar Pradesh. It is known for the Kumbh Mela festival.
Waterlogging -: Waterlogging happens when an area becomes flooded with water, making it difficult to walk or drive.
Central Water Commission -: The Central Water Commission is an Indian government agency that monitors and manages water resources in the country.
Ganga Aarti -: Ganga Aarti is a religious ceremony performed on the banks of the Ganga River, involving prayers and offerings to the river.