The Danger mark has been crossed at the Ganga river in Varanasi, following days of heavy rainfall giving away a situation now, with several well-known ghats, including Dasaswamedh, Assi, and Manikarnika, being partially submerged and interfering with daily activities, rituals, and boat services. The local authorities have issued advisories to tourists and residents not to go near the riverfront.
A high alert has been set by the district administration, with NDRF teams being deployed. No casualty has been reported yet, but the situation is very critical. Authorities are stepping up flood-control measures in the meantime. Especially, as the catchment areas up in the hills continue to get rainfall. Having to waterlog temples along the ghats surely puts a strain on religious activities. Another advisory for tourists planning to visit the city would be to postpone their trip until the city returns to normalcy.
Continued rainfall for a couple of days is expected by the Meteorological Department, which in return aggravates flooding. Authorities are undertaking round-the-clock monitoring.
