Flood crisis persists; residents struggle for food, water and shelter

Lucknow: For 10 days, 45-year-old daily-wage worker Yasmeen Bano has been living with her family on the rooftop of their home in Faizullaganj after floodwater submerged the ground floor and damaged their gas cooktop. Her daughter has developed flu-like symptoms, forcing the family to travel by boat to get medicines.“We have a single-storey house and are living on the rooftop, exposed to the scorching sun during the day and dew at night. With my two daughters, even meeting our basic needs has become difficult. We struggle to use the toilet, bathe, get food on time and maintain a healthy routine,” she said.Yasmeen is among thousands of residents affected by flooding in Faizullaganj and other low-lying areas as Gomti continues to rise. Officials said around 40,000 houses across several colonies in Faizullaganj have been affected, with water reaching 4-6ft inside some homes. Phoenix Palassio mall has effectively become an island, while water has also reached Ekana Stadium and the disaster management office.The flooding has forced many families to leave their homes or move to upper floors. In Millatnagar, Suresh Awasthi shifted his family to his village after floodwaters disrupted daily life.“I have shifted my family to my village as I have no one here in the city. My children’s studies have been affected and I have not been able to assess the loss of my belongings,” he said.Residents, who remain in flooded localities, said access to food and drinking water has become difficult, with many dependent on relief supplies.“We cannot go out whenever we need water or food. We have to depend on people who come here with relief material,” a resident said.Waterlogging has also created sanitation problems.“There is water everywhere and it has become difficult to use toilets. We are worried about the hygiene of our children,” said Deepu, a resident of Mama Colony.Boat travel has become the main mode of transport in several areas.“The boats deployed in the area charge Rs 100-200 per trip. We have to pay just to commute,” said Rakesh Yadav of Daudnagar.The flooding has also hit livelihoods. Shops remain shut in several localities and daily-wage workers have lost income.Ravi Gupta, who runs a grocery shop, said his business has remained closed for 10 days.Educational institutions have also been affected.IIIT-Lucknow will remain closed till Sunday after large parts of its campus were inundated. Examinations have been postponed and electricity supply was switched off as a safety measure. Around 800 hostellers were evacuated, with 300 returning home and the remaining shifted to alternative accommodation.Dean Deepak Kumar Singh said floodwaters entered the campus on Wednesday morning and continued to rise, prompting the institute to inform local authorities. Following a joint inspection by the SDM and tehsildar, it was decided to shut the campus till Sunday.“The situation will be reviewed after Sunday before a decision is taken on reopening. Electricity has been switched off as a safety measure and classes may be held online if required,” Singh said.Gomti Likely to Recede Within 24 HoursGomti’s water level is falling upstream and is expected to decline in the city within 24 hours, a senior irrigation department official said on Thursday.At Naimisharanya, the river level dropped by 46cm to 121.56m, while at Bhatpurwa it fell to 113.03m. In the city, the level stood at 108.60m at Gaughat, 107.29m at Hanuman Setu and 107.03m at Gomti Barrage.The official said the falling level at Itaunja is also expected to impact the city. Floodplain work will begin once water recedes and affected areas become accessible. He added that while LDA has cleared development from Pakka Pul up to the road stretch, further work will require surveys.Mayor Reviews Relief MeasuresMayor Sushma Kharkwal on Thursday visited flood-hit areas including Lohramau, Faizullaganj, Daud Nagar, Millat Nagar, Hayat Nagar, Gulmi Kheda, reaching some locations by boat. She met affected residents, distributed food packets, drinking water and medicines, and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted relief supplies. Kharkwal also inspected a health camp, reviewed medical services and medicine availability, and asked health workers to provide timely treatment to residents. Later, she reviewed operations at the flood relief control room and directed officials to address all complaints promptly. The mayor also checked the quality of food being served to flood victims and instructed officials to distribute food packets three times a day.LDA Intensifies Drainage OperationsLDA has intensified drainage and relief work around Ekana Stadium and Phoenix Palassio Mall, where waterlogging has occurred due to the rising Gomti. Officials said they created a temporary embankment of boulders and soil to prevent river water from entering the area, while 26 pumping sets are being used to drain out water.LDA vice-chairperson Prathamesh Kumar and secretary Sushil Pratap Singh inspected the affected sites and directed officials to expedite relief measures. Manpower has been increased by 50%, with teams working round-the-clock in three shifts. Meanwhile, CG City Urban Wetland and Nau Sena Shaurya Vatika have been closed to visitors until further orders as a precautionary measure.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Download the TOI App.