Receding flood waters leave heaps of garbage in Varanasi

Receding flood waters have left heaps of garbage and residual waste in Varanasi, polluting the long stretches.

There is now a threat of a disease outbreak in the area.

Water of the Ganges flooded Varanasi due to frequent rains in August.

"The situation here is very bad. The week floods hit the area was also very problematic for us, and now, when the flood waters are receding, the place is smelling. The risk of an outbreak of diseases is very high," said Umesh Kumar Jaiswal, a resident.

"The rubbish and silt has got deposited in our houses due to the floods. We are not able to step out due to this garbage. So, there is a high risk of outbreak of diseases," said Shyam Sundar, another resident.

India experiences monsoons from June to September, vital for its agriculture. But the rains frequently affect millions of people, devastating crops and homes and sparking outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery.

Flood waters can be detrimental to standing crops if it stagnates, otherwise heavy rains do not necessarily cause major damage to the planted crops.