Varanasi Flood Crisis Worsens: 54 Villages Submerged, Ghats, Roads and Homes Underwater, One Dead

The city of Varanasi is grappling with a severe flood situation. Continuous water level rise in the Ganga, Varuna, Gomti, and Nand rivers has affected vast areas. As of Monday, 54 villages have been submerged. Water has now entered 24 wards and multiple residential areas in urban parts of the city. Streets, river ghats, and houses are under water, while a 30-year-old man has lost his life due to drowning in floodwaters.

Ganga, Varuna, and Gomti in Spate as Floods Spread Across Varanasi

The water level in major rivers around Varanasi is rising steadily. The combined impact of the Ganga, Varuna, Gomti, and Nand rivers swelling has created panic not just in riverbank settlements but also in distant villages. Flooding has intensified rapidly. Within just 24 hours, ten more villages were affected. On Sunday, 44 villages were affected, but by Monday, the count reached 54.

Urban Varanasi is also reeling under pressure. Water has reached 24 urban wards and several residential colonies. Key ghats such as Assi, Dashashwamedh, Sheetla, and Samne Ghat are submerged. Roads connecting rural areas have been broken or washed away. Water has reached villages like Marui, Sihorwa, and Jakkhini in Pissaura and Araziline blocks.

Man Drowns in Floodwater, NDRF Recovers Body

In a tragic incident, a young man named Monu Chauhan, a 30-year-old resident of Hukulganj, drowned in floodwater. His body was recovered by NDRF personnel. His family is now seeking support and compensation from the Disaster Relief Fund.

The administration continues to monitor the situation closely, but concerns remain due to the unpredictable rise in water levels.

Ganga Continues to Rise, Crosses Danger Mark by 89 cm

According to the Central Water Commission, Ganga’s water level was recorded at 72.15 meters by midnight on Monday. This level is 89 centimeters above the danger mark. Although the rate of increase slowed during the day to 0.5 cm per hour, it picked up to 1 cm per hour at night. This is lower than Sunday’s rise of 2 cm per hour, but still alarming.

The rising water has now reached roads in upscale residential colonies. Several rural villages have become completely cut off due to broken roads and flooding. Connectivity to at least half a dozen villages has been lost.

Rural Areas Severely Affected, Farmers and Livestock in Crisis

The flood has disrupted daily life across many rural regions of Varanasi. In Chiraigaon block, the villages of Chitauna, Chandpur, Ramchandipur, and Mustafabad-Retapar are witnessing water entering local roads. Movement is still possible in these areas, but the administration has issued warnings and urged residents to remain alert.

Residents say that access to fodder has become a big problem. Jaygovind Yadav of Chitauna mentioned that their village, known for livestock, is now surrounded by floodwater from three sides. Waterlogged paths are now impassable.

Sanjay Sonkar, the representative of Chandpur’s village head, stated that water levels have reached four feet in many access routes leading to Sonkar and Yadav settlements. This has left large populations isolated.

From Jakkhini block, water has reached Sihorwa South, Shahanshahpur, and fields near Jakkhini village. Dinesh Mishra, a farmer from Shahanshahpur, said his three bigha brinjal crop has been ruined. Many families are now relocating to flood relief camps at Shahanshahpur and Marui, along with their cattle and belongings.

In Chaubepur block, Pipri, Laxmisenpur, and Tekri villages are completely cut off. People are now using boats to reach the city. The submerged roads and damaged bridges have made travel impossible. Fodder shortage is becoming more severe, especially for cattle-dependent households.

Floods Disrupt Cremation at Ghats, Families Wait for Hours

Floodwaters have severely disrupted cremation processes at Varanasi’s iconic ghats. At Harishchandra Ghat, water has reached near the turn leading to the Kanchi Kamakotishwar Mahadev temple. Only three funeral pyres could be lit at once at the main cremation site on Monday. Due to space limitations and ongoing rainfall, other families had to wait for up to six hours.

Rainfall has made the situation worse. Access to Manikarnika Ghat is becoming increasingly difficult. The narrow lanes leading to the ghat are waterlogged and unsafe. Boats are being used to carry dead bodies and firewood to the cremation site. Movement of families through these lanes has become risky.

Water has now reached near Satua Baba Ashram, a site where several families traditionally perform pind daan rituals before cremation. With water submerging the main entry point, performing these customs has become nearly impossible.

Due to the changed water routes, people are now using the gate near the Kashi Vishwanath Dwar for funeral processions. Shops near this gate have been closed to facilitate movement. Local vendors have expressed concern over the disruption in business but agree the safety of families is the priority.

Rising Rivers Threaten More Villages Across the Region

As the water continues to rise, new areas come under threat each day. In Varanasi’s outskirts, the surge in river water has left thousands vulnerable. Local reports suggest that even villages far from the riverbanks are experiencing flooding due to breached embankments and overflow.

Livelihoods are being destroyed as standing crops are submerged. Farmers have reported losses of vegetables, pulses, and paddy fields. With no access to fodder and fresh water, livestock is facing hunger. Relief centres are slowly filling up, but resources are stretched.

Communication lines are disrupted. In many places, mobile networks are weak or unavailable. The administration is deploying boats and setting up temporary camps, but response times are slow due to heavy waterlogging and blocked roads.

Immediate Concerns and Growing Challenges Ahead

The most pressing concern right now is the further rise in water levels. Even though the speed of the water’s rise reduced slightly, it is still continuing to increase. Forecasts do not yet suggest a decline.

The government has been working to provide relief materials including food, drinking water, medicines, and temporary shelters. However, the scale of the disaster is growing. Relief workers are finding it increasingly difficult to reach isolated villages.

With the festival season approaching and thousands displaced, managing crowd control, food distribution, and sanitation will be even more challenging. Schools in the flood-hit areas remain shut, and normal life has come to a standstill.

Varanasi is facing one of the worst floods in recent years. The swelling rivers have pushed the city and its villages into a state of emergency. With 54 villages already submerged, more are at risk if the water continues to rise.

The tragic death of Monu Chauhan underscores the gravity of the situation. Families are stranded, crops are ruined, and access to even basic services is compromised.

Until water levels recede, Varanasi’s residents must depend on government support, emergency services, and community resilience. The coming days will be crucial in determining how well the city can withstand the pressure and emerge from this crisis.