Lucknow floods: Why city got flooded days after the rain stopped

LUCKNOW: The state capital has witnessed flooding in several neighbourhoods over the past few days, but officials say the waterlogging is not solely the outcome of local rainfall. Instead, it is the downstream result of an eight- to 10-day movement of runoff generated nearly 250km upstream, where exceptionally heavy rain across Gomti catchment travelled gradually to the state capital.On Monday afternoon, Gomti was measured at 106.99 metres at Hanuman Setu, below the danger mark of 109.50 metres and far below the historic high flood level of 110.85 metres recorded in 1971.Despite that, low-lying colonies including Faizullahganj, Ghaila, Daud Nagar and nearby areas remained inundated, highlighting how delayed river response and floodplain encroachment can trigger urban flooding even when river levels and discharge are not at record highs.Gomti originates at Gomat Taal in Pilibhit and flows through Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi and Sitapur before reaching Lucknow, then continues through Barabanki, Ayodhya,…