Rooftop Ganga Aarti, no boat rides: Varanasi ghats submerged as river rises

Shalu Chaudhary, a member of the Dom community, which traditionally conducts last rites at the ghat, said, “At present, there is no long wait for cremations. But if the number of bodies increases, the situation could become difficult.”

Shankar, however, said this is a regular occurrence during this season and the government should find a permanent solution. “Simply saying cremations have been stopped on the ground and shifted to the terrace is not an adequate response. People come to Manikarnika Ghat from far-off places to perform the last rites of their loved ones.”

Boat services suspended

The rising Ganga has also disrupted boat services, which many families rely on to reach Manikarnika from other ghats.

Varanasi Boat Association’s organisational secretary Shambhu Sahani said the water level had been rising continuously for the past week and boat movement had become risky. “We believe the river is now very close to the danger level.”

He said several businesses dependent on them, including tea stalls and other vendors, have also been affected. Around 2,800 small and large boats operate on the river. 

ACP Atul Anjan Tripathi said the water level of the river stood at 68.35 metres on Thursday and was steadily moving towards the danger mark of 71.26 metres. “Lakhs of devotees have been visiting Varanasi during the month of Sawan. Keeping their safety in mind, boat operations have been suspended as a precautionary measure,” he said.

The ACP said a decision on resuming boat operations would be taken once the water level and the flow of the river return to normal.

A view of anchored boats on the shore of a flooded Ganga Ghat, in Varanasi on Thursday. (ANI Photo)

Other ghats affected

At Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the famous Ganga Aarti takes place, rising waters have submerged parts of the lower platforms, forcing organisers to repeatedly move the ceremony onto higher ground. 

Shivam Gupta, a member of the Ganga Sewa Nidhi which organises the Aarti, said the ritual is being conducted from the rooftop as the water level continues to rise. 

A senior official of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation said the rise in the water level has disrupted the links between the ghats. The civic body is waiting for the water level to recede before restoring the connections, the official said.

The Jal Police, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been camping at the ghats and conducting round-the-clock patrolling. 

People have been urged to avoid flooded and submerged stretches and stay away from deep water.

Tripathi said people can, however, go near the river and take a dip in shallow water. He added that around 1 lakh people, mostly Kanwariyas, are visiting the ghats every day.