The river level dropped 6 cm since Friday to 107.2 meters at 6pm, remaining 1.22 meters below the warning mark of 108.50 meters. Lucknow: After two weeks of flooding, the Gomti river finally began receding on Saturday, bringing some relief to thousands of residents in low-lying areas.
The flooding has revived memories of 2008, when the Gomti similarly inundated parts of Lucknow. “In 2008, floodwaters had reached Vipul Khand, but the inconvenience to residents was nowhere near what we are witnessing today. Administration has deployed 52 boats were operating in Faizullahganj for relief distribution and transportation.
Because of increasing habitation along the river’s floodplains, however, an irrigation department official said the impact on residential settlements was considerably greater this time. Because residential settlements have expanded closer to the river, nearly 40,000 people have been affected this time, primarily. We have lost everything,” he said.
The groceries are now running out, and we are struggling to meet our basic needs,” said Danish Mahfooz, a Faizullahganj resident. Vimal Yadav of Mama Colony said water over five feet deep entered his house, damaging furniture and electronic appliances. Around two decades ago, the Gomti had vast open floodplains where excess water could spread and eventually recede without causing such widespread disruption,” the official said. “The water has started receding, but relief teams will continue providing affected residents with food, drinking water, medicines and other essential amenities,” said district magistrate Vishakh G.
“We stocked ration for a few days when the water started rising and blocked roads. “We could not shift them to the first floor in time. Meanwhile, relief operations continued across affected localities. Cooked food, drinking water and essential supplies are being transported by boats to inundated settlements. The administration has established a relief camp at Hayat Nagar, deployed round-the-clock medical and revenue teams, arranged mobile toilets and stationed forest department personnel to rescue snakes and other animals entering flooded settlements.
Defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh reviewed the flood situation through a video call with affected resident Rajmani Tiwari, enquiring about water levels and whether relief materials were reaching stranded families. He also spoke to district administration officials, including the ADM City and SDM Sadar, directing them to expedite relief operations and ensure that essential supplies reached every affected family.