LUCKNOW, Oct. 11 -- Flooding continued to affect religious and educational institutions in Lucknow on Saturday, with the Chandrika Devi temple remaining closed for devotees and the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) campus still grappling with waterlogging, despite a marginal improvement in water levels reported by authorities. For the first time, devotees will be unable to visit the Chandrika Devi temple during Navratri this year, as flooding has forced the temple management to shut its gates. The traditional Amavasya fair at the temple has also been cancelled due to the prevailing flood situation. "Water levels have receded only marginally, and the situation remains unsafe for devotees. At a meeting on Friday, we decided to keep the temple closed for another three days," said Ashish Kumar Singh, president of the Chandrika Devi Temple Trust. Meanwhile, Hanumat Dham temple reopened for devotees and continued to hold prayers throughout the flooding. However, the gate facing the Gomti will remain closed as a precautionary measure, said mahant Ramsevak. Other public spaces in the vicinity, including the IIIT campus, Shaurya Vatika and the wetland, continue to remain closed, with "No Entry" banners displayed at the gates. The situation at IIIT showed little improvement on Saturday, with large parts of the campus remaining waterlogged despite ongoing pumping operations. Water levels had receded by only 1-2 cm, said DK Singh, dean of academics at the institute. "The campus remains waterlogged. Water levels rose on Friday, prompting the LDA vice-chairman to visit the site. Despite efforts to drain the water using pumps, the level has receded by only around 1-2 cm," Singh said. With the campus still inaccessible, faculty members and staff are working from home. The institute will shift to online classes, while examinations have been postponed until further notice, he added. htc...