Saryu River flooding and erosion in Barabanki

The Saryu River in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh has caused significant flooding and riverbank erosion, driven by continuous water release from Nepal and heavy rainfall.

Initially, the river rose 49 centimeters above the danger mark, causing soil erosion in the Hetmapur area of the Ramnagar tehsil. This led to the collapse of approximately 10 to 12 permanent houses, prompting residents to dismantle their own homes to salvage materials.

As the situation progressed following three days of continuous rain, the destruction escalated. Reports indicate that between 40 and 50 houses have been swallowed by the river. The erosion also claimed a 150-year-old mosque, a Shankarji temple, and the boundary wall of a local veterinary hospital. There are growing concerns regarding the imminent loss of the 1,100-year-old Baba Narayan Das temple.

While local administration has attempted to mitigate damage using sandbags and boulders, residents have expressed frustration over the perceived ineffectiveness of these measures and delays in intervention.