LUCKNOW, Oct. 4 -- As the Gomti continues to swell in Lucknow, its water has now reached several new locations in the city on Saturday, touching the cremation platform at Bhaisakund near Samta Mulak crossing and entering the premises of Hanumant Dham. The water level at the Gomti barrage rose by around six inches in 24 hours as runoff from rain-hit catchment areas in Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri and other upstream districts reached the state capital, according to irrigation department officials. At Bhaisakund, water reached the platform where cremations using wood are normally conducted, while parts of the Hanumant Dham premises were also inundated. Nevertheless, operations at Bhaisakund have not been impacted so far even after the rise of the Gomti, according to Lucknow Municipal Corporation officials. The development comes a day after the swollen Gomti submerged large stretches of the riverfront. On the second day, visitors said the water level at the riverfront was visibly higher than on Friday, with the rise noticeable along several stretches. Similarly, Gulalaghat also experienced a rise in the water level at that location. Irrigation department executive engineer, Lucknow division, Mukesh Vaish told HT on Saturday the rise was primarily due to water reaching Lucknow from upstream catchment areas rather than fresh rainfall in the city. "Water coming from the upstream catchment areas has started reaching Lucknow, resulting in the rise in the Gomti's water level," Vaish said. He said the river was now flowing at nearly 30 kmph, compared with around 1 kmph earlier, as accumulated runoff from upstream areas added to the river's discharge. With the water level rising, the irrigation department has opened all 10 gates of the Gomti barrage to facilitate downstream movement. Vaish said officials operate the gates according to the river's water level and flow conditions. During a rise, opening the gates allows water to move downstream and helps reduce the possibility of water backing up towards the city. The department had earlier sealed 48 city drainage outlets to prevent the swollen river from backing up into Lucknow's drainage network, as reported by Hindustan Times on Saturday. The continuing rise in the Gomti has also intensified flood-relief operations in Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT), where more than 30 boats are operating in affected areas. The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), as a precautionary measure, asked the Food Valley management to shut down the premises for a day following a rise in the riverfront water level that triggered a high alert....