Lucknow’s Gomti flood crisis entered its 10th day on Thursday, with around 40,000 homes in Faizullaganj and nearby colonies affected, residents struggling for food, drinking water and sanitation, and several institutions forced to shut or evacuate people. Officials said the river level was expected to begin easing in the city within 24 hours, but floodwater continued to disrupt homes, businesses and transport across low-lying areas.
In Faizullaganj, water has reached four to six feet inside some houses, forcing families either to leave or move to upper floors and rooftops. Yasmeen Bano, a daily-wage worker, has been living with her family on the rooftop of her single-storey house after floodwater submerged the ground floor and damaged their gas cooktop. Her daughter developed flu-like symptoms, and the family travelled by boat to obtain medicines.
Residents said access to basic supplies has become increasingly difficult. Families remaining in flooded localities depend on relief teams for food and water, while sanitation has emerged as a major concern because toilets and bathing facilities are difficult to use. Boat travel has become the main mode of transport in several areas, with residents reporting charges of Rs 100 to Rs 200 per trip.
The flooding has also affected livelihoods and education. Shops in several localities remain closed, while daily-wage workers have lost income. In Millatnagar, resident Suresh Awasthi shifted his family to his village after floodwater disrupted daily life and said he had not yet been able to assess the damage to his belongings.
IIIT-Lucknow will remain closed till Sunday after large parts of its campus were inundated. Examinations have been postponed, electricity supply has been switched off as a safety measure and around 800 hostellers were evacuated. About 300 students returned home, while the remaining students were moved to alternative accommodation. Dean Deepak Kumar Singh said the campus would be reviewed after Sunday and that classes could be held online if required.
The rising water has also reached Ekana Stadium, the disaster management office and areas around Phoenix Palassio mall, which has effectively become an island. The Lucknow Development Authority has deployed 26 pumping sets near Ekana Stadium and Phoenix Palassio to drain water. Officials have also created a temporary embankment using boulders and soil to prevent river water from entering the area. LDA said manpower had been increased by 50%, with teams working in three shifts.
A senior irrigation department official said water levels were falling upstream and that the decline was expected to reach Lucknow within 24 hours. At Naimisharanya, the level fell by 46 centimetres to 121.56 metres, while it dropped to 113.03 metres at Bhatpurwa. In the city, the level stood at 108.60 metres at Gaughat, 107.29 metres at Hanuman Setu and 107.03 metres at Gomti Barrage. The official said the falling level at Itaunja was also expected to affect conditions in the city.
Mayor Sushma Kharkwal visited Lohramau, Faizullaganj, Daud Nagar, Millat Nagar, Hayat Nagar and Gulmi Kheda, reaching some locations by boat. She distributed food packets, drinking water and medicines, inspected a health camp and directed officials to maintain uninterrupted relief supplies. She also instructed officials to distribute food packets three times a day and reviewed operations at the flood relief control room.
The LDA said floodplain work would begin once the water receded and affected areas became accessible. Further work beyond the stretch from Pakka Pul to the road area will require surveys. CG City Urban Wetland and Nau Sena Shaurya Vatika have been closed to visitors until further orders as a precautionary measure.
