PRAYAGRAJ, India — Heavy rainfall has caused widespread waterlogging in Prayagraj, forcing railway authorities to temporarily shift train operations from Rambagh station to Jhunsi as floodwater accumulated in the station yard. The disruption came as several low-lying parts of the city remained inundated after heavy rain over the past 24 hours.
- Rambagh station operations have been temporarily shifted to Jhunsi because of waterlogging.
- Four passenger trains normally originating and terminating at Rambagh are being operated from Jhunsi.
- Several low-lying Prayagraj neighbourhoods, including areas around the Sangam, have reported flooding.
- The Allahabad High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the city’s waterlogging and directed authorities to improve drainage arrangements.
Prayagraj Flooding Forces Train Operations to Shift
North Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sumit Kumar told PTI that Rambagh station is situated in a low-lying area where water has accumulated in the yard. Railway authorities are working to remove the water, but officials said it has been flowing back.
As a temporary measure, four passenger trains that ordinarily originate and terminate at Rambagh are being operated from Jhunsi. The arrangement is intended to keep the affected train services functioning while waterlogging at Rambagh persists.
Other Major Prayagraj Stations Operating Normally
Despite the disruption at Rambagh, railway officials said waterlogging had not been reported at Prayagraj Junction, Naini or Prayagraj Chheoki stations.
North Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Shivam Sharma said trains at these stations were operating according to schedule, indicating that the impact of the rainfall had not affected all major railway facilities in the city in the same way.
Low-Lying Areas Remain Under Water
Heavy rain has also affected several residential areas across Prayagraj. Localities including Alopibagh, Daraganj, Allahpur, Sobatiyabagh and George Town have experienced waterlogging, with areas around the Sangam also affected.
In some locations, floodwater has entered ground-floor homes. Residents have reported difficulties as accumulated water continues to affect movement and living conditions.
Drainage Operations Continue Amid Persistent Waterlogging
Several low-lying parts of Prayagraj have remained inundated following heavy rainfall over the past few days. The district administration and municipal authorities have been engaged in drainage operations to remove accumulated water.
Authorities face an additional challenge at Rambagh, where efforts to drain the station yard have been complicated by water flowing back into the affected area.
Allahabad High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognisance
The city’s worsening waterlogging has also drawn judicial attention. The Allahabad High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the situation and questioned the district administration and municipal corporation over the city’s drainage arrangements.
The court directed the authorities to ensure proper drainage measures, adding judicial scrutiny to the ongoing administrative response to the flooding.
Akhilesh Yadav Criticises Uttar Pradesh Government
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the waterlogging in Prayagraj. In a post on X, he shared a photograph showing flooding at a house and alleged that substantial sums had been spent on development and image-building without adequately resolving the city’s drainage problems.
Yadav alleged that Rs 7,000-8,000 crore had been spent “on paper” and another Rs 20,000 crore “without any paperwork” on image-building. These were political allegations made by Yadav and were not independently established in the supplied material.
“Aerial surveys of floods will not work. If you have the courage, come down on the streets and face the people,” Yadav said.
Flooding Keeps Pressure on City Infrastructure
The disruption at Rambagh highlights how heavy rainfall can affect transport infrastructure located in vulnerable low-lying areas. While other major railway stations continued normal operations, persistent water accumulation at Rambagh required a temporary change in the starting and terminating point of several passenger services.
For residents, the continuing inundation of residential neighbourhoods and the High Court’s intervention have placed drainage management at the centre of the city’s response to the heavy rainfall.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Content Creator of The Nation Bulletin, an independent digital news platform focused on delivering timely, reliable and meaningful news from India and around the world.
