Several rivers in Uttar Pradesh, including the Ghaghra, Saryu and Ganga, are in spate following heavy rainfall in the hilly areas of Nepal. In Barabanki, rapid erosion by the Saryu has threatened the 1,100-year-old Baba Narayan Das temple, while flooding and waterlogging have affected several districts and a light-rain alert has been issued for seven cities.
In Hetmapur in the Ramnagar tehsil area of Barabanki, erosion by the Saryu river has intensified. On Tuesday afternoon, the river was flowing 77 centimetres above the danger mark. The b current has continued to erode the riverbanks, with the erosion now reaching the 1,100-year-old Baba Narayan Das temple.
Part of the temple has been left hanging towards the river channel. Villagers and devotees have started prayers and a havan to protect the temple. Local residents said the administration was carrying out rescue and protection work at its level, but concerns over the safety of the temple have increased. Information has also emerged that a mosque in the Saryu river channel at Hetmapur has been submerged.
In Gonda, the Ghaghra river was flowing 50 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin Bridge on Wednesday morning. The water level has fallen by 20 centimetres over the past 24 hours, but around 18,000 people in 20 villages in the Tarabganj and Colonelganj tehsil areas remain affected by flooding.
Water has surrounded several villages and has entered some houses. Affected residents have been forced to live and cook on makeshift platforms inside their homes. Thousands of bighas of crops have been submerged. The administration is distributing fodder for animals in the affected areas. Classes have also been disrupted for five days in some primary and upper-primary schools.
The risk of erosion has also increased along the Elgin-Charsari and Bhikharipur-Sakraur embankments in Gonda. The flood control department is on alert. Officials inspected around 40 kilometres of embankment from Elgin Bridge to Paska.
In Bahraich, the Ghaghra river was flowing 70 centimetres above the danger mark. Continuous rainfall in Nepal and the district, along with the release of water from barrages, has surrounded around a dozen villages in the Mahsi and Motipur tehsil areas. Around 15,000 people are reported to have been affected, and the administration has intensified relief and rescue operations.
In Unnao, the Ganga water level reached 112.49 metres by 8 am on Tuesday. Floodwater subsequently reached riverside areas, causing waterlogging in several houses. Some people have been forced to stay on the roofs of their homes, while boats are being used for movement through residential lanes.
In Ashapur Abhaypur gram sabha of Malwan development block in Bindki tehsil of Fatehpur, the rising water levels of the Ganga and Pandu rivers caused a b current to wash away around 10 metres of a connecting road. The damage to the route from Ashapur to Jade Ka Purwa and Avseri Kheda has created transportation problems for residents.
In Moradabad, several villages have been inundated due to the rising Ramganga and Kosi rivers. Roads are submerged and small bridges have also gone under water. In Varanasi, the weather remained clear, but the Ganga water level continued to rise and access to several ghats was affected.
Most parts of Uttar Pradesh had clear weather on Wednesday morning, with bright sunshine in several places. According to weather scientists, the monsoon has started withdrawing from Uttar Pradesh. The monsoon's influence has decreased over Muzaffarnagar, Aligarh and adjoining western areas.
According to BHU weather scientist Manoj Srivastava, the monsoon will gradually withdraw from the remaining parts of the state. Temperatures may rise as moisture decreases, although local weather systems could cause light rainfall in some districts. Weather-related warnings for different areas for the days beyond September 30 are available on the IMD's official warning portal.
