Heavy rain floods Lakhimpur Kheri, Varanasi; trains suspended, schools shut
Heavy rain flooded parts of Lakhimpur Kheri and Varanasi, disrupting schools, trains and cremations. Rising river levels pushed authorities to suspend services, shift families and monitor a deepening flood threat.
Incessant rain on Tuesday caused severe waterlogging in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri and Varanasi districts, disrupting daily life in both places. In Lakhimpur Kheri, authorities shut all educational institutions up to Class 8 for the day, while in Varanasi, flooded lanes were navigated by boats and cremations at the Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats were shifted to rooftops and bylanes.
The rain also affected transport and prompted evacuations. In Lakhimpur Kheri, rising water in the Sharda river disrupted train services on the Mailani-Nanpara section after water seeped onto the track between Bhira and Palia stations. In Varanasi, the Ganga rose above the warning level, creating a flood-like situation, and families affected by waterlogging along the Varuna river were moved to relief camps.
North Eastern Railway PRO Mahesh Gupta told PTI that train services between Mailani, Bichhia and Nanpara would remain suspended "until further orders."
Around half a dozen trains were affected by the disruption. In view of the heavy rain, district basic education officer Pravin Tiwari announced a holiday on Tuesday for all schools up to Class 8 in Lakhimpur.
The situation along the Nepal border in Lakhimpur Kheri also remained a concern as water levels in the Mohana and Karnali rivers rose in the Tikunia area of Nighasan tehsil. The two rivers originate in Nepal, and their unregulated flow affects several border villages in Kheri, including areas around the Dudhwa National Park.
In Varanasi, the Central Water Commission said the Ganga's water level was 70.28 metres at 10 am on Tuesday, above the warning level of 70.26 metres and below the danger mark of 71.262 metres. The highest water level ever recorded in the city is 73.901 metres.
The river was rising at 0.5 centimetre per hour. District officials said boats were being used in several waterlogged lanes, while cremations continued on rooftops and bylanes after the traditional sites at the Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghats were flooded. Overall, the heavy rain disrupted schooling, transport and essential activities in both districts, while authorities monitored rising river levels and shifted affected families to safer places.