Varanasi, 02 Aug

(HS): Prime Minister

Narendra Modi has expressed deep concern over the rising water level of Ganga

and Varuna rivers and the dire flood situation in his parliamentary

constituency Varanasi. The Prime Minister, who came for just three hours to a

public meeting held in Banauli village of Sevapuri block on Saturday, took

detailed information about the flood situation from Varanasi Commissioner S.

Rajlingam and District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar in private. Prime Minister

Modi sought information from the officials about the preparations for relief

and rescue operations in flood-affected areas, arrangements for the people

living in camps and the efforts being made by the local administration. He

asked to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to the affected people

immediately and smoothly.

In Varanasi, the

Ganga river crossed the warning point (70.262 meters) on Friday evening and is

moving towards the danger mark (71.262 meters). The water level of the Ganga

was recorded at 70.87 meters at 8 am on Saturday, which is increasing at an

average rate of three centimeters every hour. The Central Water Commission has predicted

that the record of the devastating flood of 1978 may be broken this year. Due

to the continuous rise and reverse flow in the Ganga, the tributary river

Varuna has also become furious. The flood situation in the embankment areas of

both the rivers is serious. Life has come to a standstill in the localities

surrounded by flood water and people are forced to migrate to safer places. The

state government is keeping a close watch on the situation. On the instructions

of the government, the NDRF, Water Police and the District Administration are

in alert mode. Relief and rescue work is going on on a war footing in the

affected areas.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi