PLACES IN NEWS 4th SEPTEMBER 2025

   Ganga River

Why in the News?

1. Incessant rainfall in Uttar Pradesh (August 2025) has caused severe flooding in 13 districts, with the Ganga flowing above the danger mark in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Ballia.
2. In Varanasi, the Ganga crossed the danger level (72.1 m against 71.262 m), submerging ghats, disrupting cremation rituals, and forcing the famed Ganga Aarti to shift to rooftops.

About Ganga River

1. The Ganga is the longest river of India (approx. 2,510 km), originating from the Gangotri Glacier (Gaumukh, Uttarakhand) as the Bhagirathi.
2. It flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, before draining into the Bay of Bengal.
3. Major tributaries: Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Son, Betwa, Chambal.
4. The river is sacred in Hinduism, worshipped as Goddess Ganga, and central to rituals, pilgrimages, and festivals like Ganga Dussehra.
5. Important cities on its banks: Haridwar, Kanpur, Prayagraj (confluence with Yamuna), Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata.
6. The river basin is the largest in India, supporting ~43% of India’s population and providing fertile alluvial soil for agriculture.
7. Environmental concern: Ganga is among the most polluted rivers due to untreated sewage, industrial waste, and religious offerings.
8. Government initiatives: Namami Gange Programme (2014), National Ganga River Basin Authority, and Ganga Action Plan to rejuvenate and clean the river.

Yamuna River

Why in the News?

1. On Thursday (Sept 4, 2025), the Yamuna river level in Delhi reached 207.48 metres at the Old Railway Bridge, causing floods in several low-lying areas.
2. Floodwaters reached Delhi Secretariat and nearby regions, while Mayur Vihar Phase I and roads leading to Yamuna Bank Metro Station were submerged, disrupting transport and daily life.

1. Incessant rainfall worsened the situation, leading to traffic snarls and alerts from flood control authorities.

About Yamuna River

1. The Yamuna is the largest tributary of the Ganga, with a total length of about 1,376 km.
2. Originates from the Yamunotri Glacier at Bandarpoonch peak in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand.
3. Flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, before merging with the Ganga at Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam).
4. Major tributaries: Tons, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Sindh.
5. Important cities on its banks: Delhi, Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Prayagraj.
6. The river holds immense religious significance in Hinduism, associated with Yamuna Devi and connected to the legends of Lord Krishna (Mathura, Vrindavan).
7. Yamuna provides water for drinking, irrigation, and industries, sustaining millions of people in North India.
8. Environmental concern: The Delhi stretch is one of the most polluted river stretches in India, due to untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and encroachments.
9. Conservation measures: Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) launched in 1993 with Japanese assistance, and multiple drives under the Namami Gange Mission.