PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 20 -- Relentless rainfall over the past three days has left large swathes of Prayagraj submerged, exposing critical failures in the city's drainage infrastructure and forcing thousands of residents to seek refuge on rooftops or in temporary shelters. According to India meteorological department (IMD) data, the city recorded 262.9 mm of rainfall in just 72 hours comprising 73.4 mm on August 17, 69.7 mm on August 18 and a staggering 119.8 mm on August 19. The heavy downpour has severely impacted public life, with water levels reaching three to four feet in areas stretching from Civil Lines to Kareli. For the second consecutive day on Wednesday, schools remained closed, and many students living in hostels have opted to vacate the city and return to their hometowns. According to Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, nearly 6,000 homes have been affected, with approximately 2,000 houses in Kareli bearing the brunt of the flooding. Other severely impacted localities include JK Nagar, Gaddha Colony, Sholah Market, B-Block, Shams Nagar, Gaus Nagar, Jafri Colony, and Barah Market. Public infrastructure has also been crippled. Train operations on three tracks at Rambagh Railway Station were suspended due to inundation. Additionally, the George Town police station was flooded, forcing officials to temporarily shift routine operations to the Balson Crossing police outpost. Administrative response The flooding has triggered immediate scrutiny. The Allahabad high court took suo motu cognizance of the situation on Tuesday, summoning district magistrate Manish Verma and municipal commissioner Seelam Sai Teja. The court observed that the waterlogging had severely disrupted judicial functioning, with lawyers and judges struggling to reach court premises. Meanwhile, municipal and administrative teams are operating on a war footing. Divisional commissioner Lokesh M, along with the municipal commissioner, conducted ground inspections to review drainage efforts. Officials confirmed that 43 pumps, with a combined capacity of 132.5 MLD, are now operational across the district, including six high-capacity pumps installed in the Sangam Petrol Pump area. The Jal Nigam has also been directed to deploy water tankers to address drinking water shortages in affected zones. For many residents, the flooding has brought daily life to a standstill. "Every morning we remove water from the house, only to see it return within hours. Our bedding, clothes, and household belongings have been ruined," said Reena Singh, a resident of Mundera, adding that her family has been forced to survive on minimal food supplies as cooking has become impossible. In the same locality, Santosh Jain reported that his ground floor remains under two feet of water. "We have been living on the rooftop for the past two days. Furniture and other household items have been badly damaged," he said. Prof BN Mishra, a weather expert and former head of the department of geography at Allahabad University, attributed the deluge to a strong cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal. "The cyclonic conditions are very robust, leading to heavy rainfall across northern India," Prof. Mishra said. "This heavy rain is expected to continue for the next four days. The deficit experienced in July appears to be getting compensated this month, and forecasts indicate more precipitation ahead."...