Heavy Rain Triggers Flooding Across Uttar Pradesh, Ganga Breaches Danger Mark in Varanasi

Torrential rainfall over the past three days has caused severe flooding across Uttar Pradesh, with the Ganga River in Varanasi rising above the danger level, inundating ghats and nearby residential areas. More than 24 localities and 32 villages in Varanasi have been affected, displacing over 6,500 people.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for several eastern districts and an orange alert across East and West UP for the next 24 hours. The rainfall is expected to continue for another 24–36 hours due to a northward shift of the monsoon trough and a cyclonic circulation near the Bihar border.
Cities like Kanpur, Lucknow, and Ayodhya are facing the brunt of the downpour. Streets in Kanpur and Ayodhya turned into rivers, while schools in Lucknow were ordered closed as a safety precaution. In Prayagraj, flood-like conditions persist as the Ganga continues to rise and heavy waterlogging has paralyzed several neighborhoods.
Twelve people have died in the past 24 hours due to incidents related to flooding, lightning, drowning, and snake bites. Seventeen districts are currently flood-affected, including Agra, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Lakhimpur Kheri. Rescue teams from NDRF, SDRF, and PAC have been deployed for relief efforts in the worst-hit areas.