VARANASI, Aug. 20 -- The city is facing a mounting flood crisis as the Ganga's water level continues to rise, forcing significant disruptions to daily rituals and sparking an administrative alert for potential flood relief operations. The rising waters have submerged the primary cremation platforms at the city's major sites, Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats. With the platforms under water, residents are now being forced to conduct last rites at higher ground or within the narrow lanes of the ghats. This shift has created a severe space crunch, resulting in delays of two to three hours for families bringing loved ones for cremation. These ghats serve not only Varanasi but also neighboring districts and parts of Bihar, leading to fluctuating crowds daily. The impact on riverfront infrastructure is significant. All boat operations have been suspended, and the entire Namo Ghat area, including the base of the iconic 'Namaste' mudra statues, is currently submerged. Connectivity between the various ghats has been completely severed. Authorities have issued a high alert for all low-lying areas, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and water police have intensified river patrolling. According to the Central Water Commission, the Ganga's water level was recorded at 68 meters on Wednesday. While the river remains below the warning level of 70.262 meters and the danger level of 71.262 meters, it is rising at a rate of 5 centimeters per hour. The Highest Flood Level (HFL) is recorded at 73.901 meters. District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar chaired a high-level review meeting to oversee flood prevention and relief operations. Officials have been directed to proactively identify vulnerable areas and ensure all rescue resources, including boats and equipment, are on standby. The District Magistrate emphasised that there should be zero negligence in handling the situation and ordered all departments to maintain strict coordination, reporting any emergencies to the control room immediately....