Nearly 40,000 affected as Pandu river floods homes, cuts connectivity in Kanpur

Nearly 40,000 people have been affected and more than 1,000 houses inundated as the swollen Pandu river floods residential areas in Kanpur and neighbouring Kanpur Dehat, leaving several families stranded and cutting road connectivity, officials said.

Streets in several low-lying areas are under five to seven feet of water, while floodwaters have entered some houses to depths of up to six feet. Many families have moved to safer locations, while others remain stranded on rooftops or are living under plastic sheets with their belongings.

At the Kanpur Barrage, the upstream water level was recorded at 114.200 metres, crossing the warning mark of 114 metres and nearing the danger level of 115 metres, District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh told PTI.

The downstream level stood at 113.930 metres, while discharge was recorded at 3,59,202 cusecs against the danger-level discharge of 5,44,373 cusecs, he said.

In Varun Vihar, several low-lying houses have been inundated and some huts damaged. Water has entered tin-roofed structures up to five feet, forcing displaced families to set up makeshift shelters along the Gujaini canal using plastic sheets.

During an inspection, officials saw children eating whatever food was available and women washing utensils near water tankers, while livestock was kept alongside families in the temporary shelters.

The administration has established a relief camp at Barra-8 for residents of Mayapuram, Ravidaspuram and Varun Vihar. The district magistrate and local MLA Surendra Maithani distributed relief material among affected families.

In Pipauri village, more than 200 houses have been affected. The NDRF launched rescue operations after the river rose rapidly on Thursday night and evacuated hundreds of residents. Water has entered some houses to depths of up to six feet and rescue efforts are continuing.

The district magistrate inspected Pipauri three days ago, while Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Anubhav Singh surveyed the inundated areas by motorboat for about an hour.

The situation is also severe in Bihari Purwa in Bidhnu block, where a school is submerged under nearly six feet of water and several lanes are under 8-10 feet of water.

While some residents have shifted to safer places, those unable to leave have taken shelter on rooftops covered with plastic sheets.

The flooding has also disrupted road connectivity, with the Bikru-Shivli route cut off after a makeshift bridge was submerged.

The Pandu is flowing two to three feet above the bridge, forcing residents of Bikru, Takipur Devkali, Kanjati, Kanshiram Purwa, Bachipur and Sakhrej to take a longer route to reach Shivli market.

Several villages in the Shivli area, including Majhihar, Mogra, Ramgarh, Singhpur Shivli, Bakaspurwa, Hardiya Nala, Kailai and Mawaiya, have also reported waterlogging.

Agriculture has suffered as well, with around 250 bighas of paddy and millet crops submerged in Bhagga Niwada, residents Sonu Singh, Govardhan Singh and Jaichand Singh said.

Floodwaters have also entered low-lying areas and agricultural fields in Kheda Kursi village in Rasulabad.

In Gangadin Niwada, the Ram Dham temple is surrounded by water, forcing devotees to wade through dirty water to offer prayers, villagers Bhola Awasthi and Dipendra Mishra said.

Similarly, the Ganesh temple at Kursi Kheda near Torna market has been engulfed by floodwaters.

Residents are worried about the impact of the flooding on Ganesh Mahotsav and other upcoming religious events if the water does not recede soon, villager Monti Dixit said.

In Rasulabad, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Abhishek Kumar and Tehsildar Pankaj Upadhyay, along with revenue officials, visited villages along the river on Saturday to assess the situation.

Villagers were informed about a relief centre at the primary school in Paliya-Bans Kheda, where residents can be shifted if the situation worsens, Kumar said.

The administration has also intensified health and sanitation measures in the affected areas. The district magistrate directed officials to maintain special surveillance, organise health camps and carry out fogging and vector-control measures.

During an inspection of flood-hit Mardanpur village in Bidhnu block, Community Health Centre superintendent Neeraj Sachan said daily health camps were being organised and source-reduction activities undertaken.

Health teams are examining residents, including those suffering from fever, and providing medicines as required.

Evening fogging is being carried out in urban areas, while bleaching powder is being spread in rural locations. Indoor space spraying and larvicidal treatment of drains are also underway.

The administration has also ordered entomological surveys, larval-control measures and awareness campaigns in the affected areas, officials said.