Rising water level in rivers revives flood memories in Prayagraj
PRAYAGRAJ: There is a continuous rise in the water levels of the Ganga and the Yamuna. Till noon on Wednesday, water level of the Ganga recorded at 82.79 metres in Phaphamau was just 1.92 metres away from the danger level of 84.73 metrrs while the level of the Yamuna in Naini measured at 82.62 metres was 2.11 metres below the danger mark.
From 1978 onwards, Prayagraj has witnessed nine devastating floods with water level of both the Ganga and the Yamuna crossing the danger mark of 84.73 meters, causing a huge loss of life and property in the district.
According to official records, the worst floods were witnessed in 1978 in Prayagraj (then Allahabad) with level of the Ganga reaching 88.39 metres (four metres above danger mark) while level of the Yamuna swelled to an all- timehigh in the four- decade period to 87.94 metres (over three metres above the danger mark).
Records revealed the second most devastating floods witnessed by the district residents was in 1983 when water level of the Ganga and the Yamuna swelled to 86.56 metres and 86.73 metres respectively.
Witness to the devastating 1978 floods, septuagenarian Abhay Awasthi narrated the horrifying episode which claimed lives of several dozen residents, damaged nearly half of the city’s infrastructure, killed uncountable cattle, largely in rural areas.
“Several densely populated parts of city, including Kydganj, Bai-ka-bagh, Baihrana, Gaughat, Naini , Kareli, Salori and Shivkuti, were submerged with boats plying over doublestoried buildings in these localities. Nothing was left. Some localities like Ashok Nagar, Rajapur, etc were partially submerged. I was pursuing graduation from Allahabad University during 1978 and clearly remember that supply infrastructure of electricity and drinking water was completely disabled for several days,” he said.
Similarly, Akram Khan, a city-based businessman, said ankle deep water was flowing over the old Yamuna Bridge and people from Naini and other farflung areas in trans-Yamuna belt of the district had to be shifted to the city side in boats.
Talking to Hindustan Times, executive engineer, flood division, Prayagraj Brijesh Kumar said, “It is a grim scenario. Water is continuously being released from different barrages, including Hathnikund in Haryana, Bhimghoda barrage in Uttarakhand, Mata Tila dam in UP, besides from the Kanpur barrage. In such a situation, the water level of the twin rivers could cross danger mark in next couple of days. Continuous monitoring of water level of both the rivers is being done.”
The 2013 floods witnessed the third highest level on both the rivers with the Ganga reaching to 86.52 meters while the Yamuna level was measured at 86.14 meters.