LUCKNOW, Oct. 9 -- The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) launched a major dewatering operation on Thursday after rising Gomti levels caused water to backflow into the drainage system of Gomti Nagar Extension Sector-7, triggering waterlogging around Ekana Stadium. The teams blocked water-entry points with boulders, sandbags, soil and deployed more than 25 pumps across affected areas. They cleared most routes by around 7pm. LDA secretary SP Singh said water flowed back from behind Ekana Stadium into the drains, flooding roads around the stadium and the adjoining service lane. Officials deployed pumps on the main road between Ekana Stadium and a prominent nearby mall, the road connecting to Ahimamau crossing and the drain running parallel to Shaheed Path. They also positioned five to six pumps near the State Disaster Management complex. The LDA built a barrier behind Ekana Stadium with boulders, sandbags and soil and deployed 10 large pumps for continuous dewatering. The authority established a control room and assigned senior officials, engineers and staff to round-the-clock shifts. Flooding disrupted many ongoing projects of the LDA, with water entering localities and sites falling under various proposed schemes. The situation has been particularly challenging in Prabandh Nagar, where several villages were affected after river water entered areas near Faizullaganj. The flooding hampered ongoing development related works in the area. Similar conditions were witnessed along the LDA's Phase-3 Green Corridor project, where flooding has brought construction activities to an almost complete halt. Officials are currently waiting for the water level to recede before assessing the affected stretches and taking necessary measures to resume the stalled work. An LDA official said progress on civil works and other on-ground activities under the Prabandh Nagar scheme would resume only after the water level recedes from affected villages....