LUCKNOW, Oct. 9 -- The worst may be over soon as the Gomti has started receding upstream at Bhatpurva, with its water level falling by 8cm in 24 hours even as levels at the downstream points in Lucknow continued to rise on Thursday. At Bhatpurva, the water level fell from 113.08 metres at 8pm on Wednesday to 113 metres at 8pm on Thursday. Irrigation officials said the recession upstream should gradually travel downstream towards Gaughat, Hanuman Setu and the Gomti barrage, bringing relief to the city in the next 24-48 hours. "The fall at Bhatpurva will gradually reflect at the downstream monitoring points. As the water moves downstream, the effect of the recession will also be seen at Gaughat, Hanuman Setu and the Gomti barrage," said Mukesh Vaish, executive engineer, irrigation department, Lucknow division. The current levels at all three city monitoring points, remained below their respective danger marks. At 8pm on Thursday, Gomti barrage recorded 107.08 metres, against its danger level of 109.20 metres, leaving the river 2.12 metres below the danger mark. The level had risen 8cm from 107.00 metres on Wednesday evening. At Hanuman Setu, the level stood at 107.30 metres at 8pm, compared with the danger level of 109.50 metres. The river remained 2.20 metres below the danger mark, despite a 5-cm rise in 24 hours. At Gaughat, the level rose by 3cm, from 108.57 metres on Wednesday evening to 108.60 metres on Thursday. The reading remained below the danger level. The contrasting readings show that the upstream recession has not yet reached the city's downstream monitoring points. Officials said the rise at these locations was expected because the floodwater takes time to move through the nearly 50-km stretch between Bhatpurva and the Gomti barrage. "Once the upstream level continues to fall, the downstream points will also start showing the effect. We expect the recession to become visible in the city within around 48 hours," Vaish added....