Ballia, Uttar Pradesh – The Ganga River has turned life upside down, surging past its danger mark and flooding villages and city neighborhoods. As of August 6, 2025, the river’s water level at Gayaghat gauge reached 59.81 meters, a worrying 2.115 meters above the danger level of 57.615 meters, and just shy of the high flood level of 60.39 meters. Heavy rainfall and massive water releases—16 lakh cusecs from Rajasthan’s Chambal River and 3 lakh cusecs from Matatila Dam on July 31—have pushed the Ganga to dangerous heights, leaving thousands stranded.
The flood has hit hard. Over 23 villages, including Chakkhi Nouranga, Muhammadpur, Gopalpur, and Dubey Chhapra, are waterlogged, with 41 homes swallowed by the river, 24 in Muhammadpur alone. More than one lakh people are affected, with roads like NH-31 submerged, turning villages into islands. In Chakkhi Nouranga, relentless erosion has destroyed a dozen solid houses, forcing residents to flee to higher ground or relatives’ homes. Farmers are reeling as hundreds of acres of crops lie ruined, and fodder shortages threaten livestock.
The district administration is in overdrive. District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh reported that 229 boats, including motorboats, are ferrying supplies and rescuing people, while 34 NDRF members are on the ground. Relief efforts include food kits and cooked meals, with 200 homes evacuated. Flood control rooms are open 24/7, with emergency helplines like 1077 for emergencies. Despite these efforts, locals say help is slow to reach some areas, and constant rain is making things worse.
The Ganga’s wrath isn’t new—its 2016 peak of 60.39 meters looms large in local memory. With the river rising by a centimeter per hour, fears of a repeat are growing. The Tons and Magee rivers are also swelling, adding to the chaos. For now, Ballia’s people are holding on, relying on boats and resilience, but the rising waters and ongoing rains keep hope on a tight leash.
