Ganga nears warning level in Haridwar after heavy rain; flood outposts put on alert

Haridwar: Continuous heavy rainfall across the hill and plain regions of Uttarakhand has pushed the Ganga River close to its warning level in Haridwar, prompting authorities to activate flood preparedness measures and closely monitor the rising water level.

Officials warned that if rainfall persists, the river could swell further, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas of Haridwar and downstream riverside regions of Uttar Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department and the Haridwar district administration are keeping a close watch on the river, while flood outposts along the Ganga have been placed on alert.

UP Irrigation Department (Headworks) Sub-Divisional Officer Bharat Bhushan said the Ganga's water level was recorded at 292.55 metres on Thursday afternoon, just 45 centimetres below the warning level of 293 metres. The river's danger mark stands at 294 metres.

He added that the Ganga is currently carrying 1.44 lakh cusecs (144,000 cusecs) of water.

Meanwhile, relentless rainfall since Thursday morning has led to widespread waterlogging across Haridwar, disrupting traffic and daily life in several parts of the city.

One of the worst-affected locations is Ranipur Mor, a major commercial and traffic hub, where roads were submerged, leaving the area resembling a flowing river. Several large showrooms and corporate offices in the locality were also affected.

Waterlogging was also reported from Kankhal, Jwalapur, Bhimgoda, Nai Basti, and several other neighbourhoods, causing inconvenience to residents and commuters as authorities continue to monitor the evolving flood situation.