Even as the twin rivers – Ganga and Yamuna are flowing six metres below the danger mark, the authorities of Flood Control department have taken an extensive exercise to identify relief camps across the district. Plans are afoot to set up around 103 relief camps, including 12 in city and rest across the district in case of floods.
Officials of Flood Control department, however, claimed that alarm bells will be ringing for district authorities once the water level of both rivers crosses 82.10 metre mark. On Wednesday the water level of Ganga at Phaphamau and Chhatnaag recorded 78.51 and 75.58 metres respectively while the level of Yamuna at Naini was 76.04 metres. Officials said water level of Ganga and Yamuna is rising on slow pace in the city and both the rivers are yet flowing six metres below the danger mark. The danger mark is 84.73 metres for twin rivers.
The water level of Ganga and Yamuna, as recorded at 12 noon by the Irrigation department on Wednesday showed a rising trend at Phaphamau, Chhatnaag and Naini. A senior official of Flood Control department said district authorities will be activating flood relief camp in the city once the river crosses 84 metre mark. When water level of Ganga crosses 82.10 metre mark, then flood water will enter low-lying areas like Baghara, Chhota Baghara and adjoining areas.
He, however, claimed as there was poor monsoon in eastern UP district and rivers seem to be empty as per their capacity, the flood water coming from different barrages are passing easily. If there is adequate rain in eastern UP parts and rivers gets overflowed then only there will be a possibility of floods.
Meanwhile, residents living in low-lying areas are quite anxious after seeing flood situation in Delhi and Uttrakhand. These residents have even started looking for alternative arrangements in safer areas if the flood-like situation arises in city. Baghara resident Rajeev Tripathi said, “In the current scenario, river Ganga is very far from our house and if the water level rises constantly in coming 10 days and crosses 82.10 metre mark, we would have to think to shift to safer places.” A resident of Rajapur said, “Residents living in low-lying areas always remain apprehensive and plan to shift to safer place whenever they receive news of flood”.