Lakhimpur Kheri/Varanasi, Sep 1: Incessant rain on Tuesday led to heavy waterlogging in Lakhimpur Kheri and Varanasi districts of Uttar Pradesh, disrupting normal life, while the Mandakini river in flood-hit Chitrakoot was flowing around four metres above the danger mark, officials said.
The deluge forced authorities in Lakhimpur to close all educational institutions up to Class 8 for the day, while in Varanasi, boats were out on several inundated lanes, and cremations at the Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats were being carried out on rooftops and bylanes.
Rising water level in the Sharda river in Lakhimpur also disrupted train service on the Mailani-Nanpara section, as water seepage between Bhira and Palia stations forced the suspension of around half a dozen trains.
North Eastern Railway (NER) PRO Mahesh Gupta told PTI that train service between Mailani, Bichhia and Nanpara would remain suspended until further orders.
In view of the heavy downpour, district basic education officer Pravin Tiwari announced a holiday for all schools up to Class 8 in Lakhimpur on Tuesday.
The situation along the Nepal border also remained a cause for concern, with water levels in the Mohana and Karnali rivers rising in the Tikunia area of Nighasan tehsil.
The two rivers originate in Nepal, and their unregulated flow affects several border villages of Kheri, including those around the Dudhwa National Park.
In Varanasi, rising water level in the Ganga led to a flood-like situation.
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level was recorded at 70.28 metres at 10 am on Tuesday, against a warning level of 70.26 metres and danger mark of 71.262 metres. The highest-ever recorded water level in Varanasi is 73.901 metres.
The river is rising at a rate of 0.5 centimetre per hour, the CWC said.
According to district officials, boats were being operated in several waterlogged lanes, while bodies were being cremated on rooftops and bylanes after incessant rain flooded the traditional cremation spots at the Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats.
Several families affected by waterlogging in areas along the Varuna river had already been evacuated and shifted to relief camps, the officials said.
The flood condition worsened in Chitrakoot, where the Mandakini river was flowing around four metres above the danger mark after heavy rainfall in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, commissioner of Chitrakoot Dham division, Ajit Kumar, said.
Kumar and DIG Rajesh S jointly inspected the flood-affected areas on Tuesday and reviewed relief and rescue operations.
Several religious sites, including Ramghat and the Nirmohi Akhara, were waterlogged, while affected people were evacuated to safer locations and provided food and other assistance, Kumar said.
A bridge connecting Ramghat and Nayagaon was damaged, following which police teams were deployed on both sides, he said.
DIG Rajesh said SDRF and NDRF teams were engaged in rescuing people trapped in floodwaters, while several people were evacuated by Army helicopters.
Police and administrative officials remained deployed in Pahadi, Rajapur and Manikpur areas of the district, he said.
