Boat operations on the Ganga in Varanasi have been suspended due to a steady rise in river levels, with authorities citing visitor safety as their primary concern. Water police used loudhailers to direct boatmen to anchor their vessels at the ghats, with boats visible moored along Dashashwamedh, Maa Sheetla, Assi, and several adjoining ghats.
The Ganga was recorded at 61.84 metres and rising at 10 mm per hour, still some distance from the warning level of 70.262 metres. Rising waters have already submerged the steps of several ghats, disrupting movement between them.
The suspension has left many tourists without one of Varanasi’s most sought-after experiences. On a typical day, over 1,400 boats of varying sizes operate on the river, offering panoramic views of the city’s iconic ghats and providing livelihoods to thousands of boatmen. Authorities have not yet indicated when services will resume.
