With the Ganga and Yamuna swelling steadily following an early onset of the monsoon, authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have sounded a flood alert, placing disaster response teams on high alert and reinforcing vulnerable zones.
In Prayagraj, the confluence city of the two rivers, water levels have surged sharply, placing low-lying areas near riverbanks and ghats at serious risk of inundation. The district administration has declared an official alert and commenced 24x7 monitoring of all critical locations.
“We are fully prepared so that there will be no loss of lives. Also, the refugee shelters that will be activated. Directions were given to all SDMs... We are cautious that there should be no disturbance during the flood,” said District Magistrate Ravindra Mandar.
According to Mandar, 88 flood chowkis have been constructed and 47 villages identified as sensitive. “A detailed review has been done,” he said. “Traditionally, we have deployed our teams where there are inundated areas. We have also deployed teams from NDRF and SDRF, and detailed training has been conducted; mock drills have been completed for all our revenue and other stakeholder departments.”
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The administration has asked residents in flood-prone areas to remain alert and be prepared to evacuate if instructed. Vigil around the ghats has been intensified, with disaster response teams maintaining patrol and readiness to launch rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Uttarakhand, the Ganga is flowing just below the warning mark in Rishikesh. Continuous rainfall over the past few days has led to a steady increase in the river’s level. The State Disaster Response Force and local police have appealed to residents and visitors to avoid riverbanks.
Sensitive locations such as Muni Ki Reti and Laxman Jhula are being closely monitored. “Rescue teams have been placed on alert,” authorities confirmed. Patrolling has been stepped up, and public advisories are being issued regularly.
India’s monsoon arrived eight days ahead of schedule this year, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall across large swathes of the north. The resulting surge in river volumes has led to widespread waterlogging in several districts, particularly in low-lying zones.
While the situation remains under control, officials in both states emphasised preparedness and continued caution as rainfall persists. The meteorological department has forecast further showers in the region, raising the possibility of sustained high water levels in the coming days.
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