Uttar Pradesh floods: Water starts to recede in Allahabad, Varanasi still inundated

Lucknow: Water has started receding in flood-hit Allahabad city, an official said on Saturday.

However, the district administration were highly concerned with the possibilities of an outbreak of diseases.

More than 400 people have fallen ill in the flood relief camps and officials told IANS that efforts were underway to ensure adequate medical relief.

Many houses where water had entered due to the floods have been turned into swamps with mud inside their homes. Officials said operations would soon be undertaken to clear up houses and roads.

In the last 24-hours, the river Ganga receded by about 40 cm while Yamuna’s water levels decreased by about 30 cm.

However both the rivers were still flowing over the danger mark in Allahabad.

Situation in Varanasi, where water from the Ganga has entered a large part of the city, continued to be precarious, with people marooned in flooded localities waiting for more relief material like food and water.

Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi Ramesh Gokarna said 500 food packets were air dropped in Revtipur area of Ghazipur on Friday and many more would be dropped on Saturday.

Two persons drowned in Varanasi.

Due to flooding of the roads and highways, many places are still not motorable. The Allahabad-Mirzapur highway continues to be flooded.