The rising Ganga crossed the warning level in Varanasi on Thursday amid heavy rainfall and continued to rise by around two centimetres an hour, further intensifying the flood threat as more heavy rainfall is forecast over eastern Uttar Pradesh. The rising waters of the Ganga have thrown life out of gear in Varanasi, with the river level climbing rapidly towards the danger mark and flooding several areas along the ghats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Varanasi, spoke to District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar over the phone on Thursday and sought a detailed update on the flood situation. The Prime Minister directed the administration to carry out relief operations on a “war footing” and provide all essential facilities to flood-affected people and ensure they face minimum inconvenience.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-ready-to-help-end-russia-ukraine-war-says-eam-jaishankar-during-kyiv-visit-1788437687980">India ready to help end Russia-Ukraine war, says EAM Jaishankar during Kyiv visit</a>&nbsp;He instructed officials to immediately arrange additional relief material wherever required and accelerate relief operations. PM Modi stressed the need for continuous monitoring of the flood situation while ensuring that affected people receive assistance without delay.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Mayor Ashok Tiwari says, “At 10:37, I received a call from our leader, our guide, the Prime Minister of India and our MP, Narendra Modi Ji. At that time, we were in the ward. Prime Minister Modi Ji asked about the flood situation in the Ganga, where the… <a href="https://t.co/UR3csCOaK7">pic.twitter.com/UR3csCOaK7</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://x.com/ians_india/status/2095426514418552916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;The Central Water Commission (CWC) recorded the Ganga at 70.54 metres at the Rajghat gauge at 6 am, above the warning level of 70.262 metres.&nbsp;The river was rising at two centimetres an hour. The danger level at Rajghat is 71.262 metres. The highest flood level at the site is 73.901 metres.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bar-council-has-no-power-to-discipline-law-students-before-enrollment-supreme-court-1788442808743">Bar Council has no power to discipline law students before enrollment: Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;Parts of Varanasi are already facing flooding, with the administration monitoring vulnerable areas along the Ganga and Varuna rivers.&nbsp;The rising water and inundation have disrupted one of the city’s most deeply rooted traditions—the last rites of the dead.&nbsp;<h2>Manikarnika Ghat submerged, last rites hit</h2>&nbsp;The Manikarnika Ghat has been completely inundated by floodwater, which has now reached the surrounding lanes. With the traditional route to the cremation ground submerged, families bringing bodies for cremation are being forced to rely on boats.&nbsp;The district magistrate said in a post on X that the prime minister inquired about the water levels of the Ganga-Varuna, arrangements in relief camps, and facilities being provided to the affected people.“He also issued instructions to conduct relief operations at a war footing and pay special attention to the needs of children, women, and elderly in flood relief camps.”&nbsp;Officials said flooding has affected 29 villages and wards across the district. As many as 2,900 people are being moved to safer locations via boats.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-and-nato-step-up-pressure-on-russia-after-germany-escalation-incidents-1788381258249">EU and NATO step up pressure on Russia after Germany ‘escalation incidents’</a>&nbsp;At Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the famous Ganga Aarti takes place, the river has submerged portions of the lower platforms, compelling organisers to relocate the evening ceremony to higher ground.&nbsp;A total of 61 flood relief camps with community kitchens have been set up across the district.Officials said a flood control room has been set up and it keeps a round-the-clock watch on water levels, weather conditions, potentially affected areas, and ongoing relief and rescue operations.A fleet of 198 boats has been arranged across the district for relief and rescue operations.Teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Water Police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have also been placed on standby.&nbsp;Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal and District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar on Tuesday travelled by an NDRF boat from Namo Ghat to inspect flood-hit and vulnerable areas.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) recorded the Ganga at 70.54 metres at the Rajghat gauge at 6 am, above the warning level of 70.262 metres. Parts of Varanasi are already facing flooding, with the administration monitoring vulnerable areas along the Ganga and Varuna rivers.

The rising Ganga crossed the warning level in Varanasi on Thursday amid heavy rainfall and continued to rise by around two centimetres an hour, further intensifying the flood threat as more heavy rainfall is forecast over eastern Uttar Pradesh. The rising waters of the Ganga have thrown life out of gear in Varanasi, with the river level climbing rapidly towards the danger mark and flooding several areas along the ghats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Varanasi, spoke to District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar over the phone on Thursday and sought a detailed update on the flood situation. The Prime Minister directed the administration to carry out relief operations on a “war footing” and provide all essential facilities to flood-affected people and ensure they face minimum inconvenience. Also Read: India ready to help end Russia-Ukraine war, says EAM Jaishankar during Kyiv visit He instructed officials to immediately arrange additional relief material wherever required and accelerate relief operations. PM Modi stressed the need for continuous monitoring of the flood situation while ensuring that affected people receive assistance without delay.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) recorded the Ganga at 70.54 metres at the Rajghat gauge at 6 am, above the warning level of 70.262 metres. Parts of Varanasi are already facing flooding, with the administration monitoring vulnerable areas along the Ganga and Varuna rivers.

Ganga nears danger mark in Varanasi, most ghats submerged; PM Modi orders relief work on ‘war footing’

The Allahabad High Court has rejected a writ petition challenging the proposed road widening and beautification project in the Daalmandi market of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. A Division Bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Arun Kumar ruled that the state, in exercise of its sovereign powers, can acquire religious places for public purposes, and such acquisition does not violate the Constitution. The writ petition was filed by six tenants of shops in the Daalmandi market, seeking protection against alleged forcible eviction from their shops and seeking to restrict the deployment of police or other security forces. In addition, they also demanded protection of six ancient mosques in the area, urging officials to develop an alternative route other than the widening of the road through the existing alignment. In its judgment, the High Court held that the petitioners were tenants and they did not possess ownership rights over the properties. It was further observed that they had mixed routine tenancy-related grievances and disputes with the sensitive issue of the protection of religious structures, rendering the writ petition legally unsustainable.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/do-not-open-until-2276-inside-the-us-time-capsule-that-won-t-be-opened-for-250-years-america-anniversary-1783040677941">Do not open until 2276: Inside the US time capsule that won't be opened for 250 years</a><h3>HC interprets Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991</h3>The Bench further observed that the petitioners had failed to fulfil the legal requirement of first making a formal representation before the competent authorities prior to seeking a writ of mandamus from the court. While examining the challenge to the proposed acquisition of six ancient mosques, the High Court interpreted the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, stating that the law is meant to preserve the religious character of places of worship and prevent their conversion from one faith to another. It clarified that the Act does not bar the State from acquiring land, including religious sites, for legitimate public purposes. Referring to the Supreme Court's ruling in Dr M. Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India, the court reiterated that no temple, mosque, church or any other place of worship enjoys absolute immunity from acquisition. It noted that India's secular constitutional framework places all religious structures on an equal footing and permits their acquisition in accordance with the law for public utility or development projects. The Court also discovered that the State Government and the authorities are acting within the bounds of law and that the Daalmandi road widening project serves a large public interest. It added that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 gives sufficient safeguards in relation to compensation and rehabilitation, making the petitioners' concerns legally untenable.

Referring to the Places of Worship Act and the Ismail Faruqui verdict, the court said no temple, mosque or church is immune from acquisition. It also held that the petitioners, being tenants and not owners, had no legal basis to challenge the project.

The Allahabad High Court has rejected a writ petition challenging the proposed road widening and beautification project in the Daalmandi market of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. A Division Bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Arun Kumar ruled that the state, in exercise of its sovereign powers, can acquire religious places for public purposes, and such acquisition does not violate the Constitution. The writ petition was filed by six tenants of shops in the Daalmandi market, seeking protection against alleged forcible eviction from their shops and seeking to restrict the deployment of police or other security forces. In addition, they also demanded protection of six ancient mosques in the area, urging officials to develop an alternative route other than the widening of the road through the existing alignment. In its judgment, the High Court held that the petitioners were tenants and they did not possess ownership rights over the properties. It was further observed that they had mixed routine tenancy-related grievances and disputes with the sensitive issue of the protection of religious structures, rendering the writ petition legally unsustainable. Also read: Do not open until 2276: Inside the US time capsule that won't be opened for 250 years HC interprets Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 The Bench further observed that the petitioners had failed to fulfil the legal requirement of first making a formal representation before the competent authorities prior to seeking a writ of mandamus from the court. While examining the challenge to the proposed acquisition of six ancient mosques, the High Court interpreted the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, stating that the law is meant to preserve the religious character of places of worship and prevent their conversion from one faith to another. It clarified that the Act does not bar the State from acquiring land, including religious sites, for legitimate public purposes. Referring to the Supreme Court's ruling in Dr M. Ismail Faruqui v. Union of India, the court reiterated that no temple, mosque, church or any other place of worship enjoys absolute immunity from acquisition. It noted that India's secular constitutional framework places all religious structures on an equal footing and permits their acquisition in accordance with the law for public utility or development projects. The Court also discovered that the State Government and the authorities are acting within the bounds of law and that the Daalmandi road widening project serves a large public interest. It added that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 gives sufficient safeguards in relation to compensation and rehabilitation, making the petitioners' concerns legally untenable.

Referring to the Places of Worship Act and the Ismail Faruqui verdict, the court said no temple, mosque or church is immune from acquisition. It also held that the petitioners, being tenants and not owners, had no legal basis to challenge the project.

Religious places can be acquired for public projects: Allahabad HC dismisses Daalmandi plea

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Ganga nears danger mark in Varanasi, most ghats submerged; PM Modi orders relief work on ‘war footing’

Religious places can be acquired for public projects, says Allahabad HC