Venue of PM's public meeting water logged

The DLW ground where the PM is scheduled to address the public meeting and launch a few projects is heavily waterlogged

Heavy downpour has led to water logging in the ground where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address 'Vikas Sabha' in his parliamentary constituency here today, leaving officials worried.

It has been raining heavily since last night and the entire DLW ground where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the public meeting and launch a few projects is heavily waterlogged.

BJP media in-charge of Varanasi constituency as well as Poorvanchal region (eastern UP) Sanjay Bhardwaj said they were keeping a close watch on the situation.

"There is a possibility that the Prime Minister might launch other projects along with the inauguration of the trauma centre at Benaras Hindu University, but there is no intimation regarding cancellation of the public meeting yet," he said.

"It is true that it is raining heavily and possibility of the public meeting is getting thinner as more heavy rain is expected between 2 PM to 5 PM," BJP state president Laxmi Kant Bajpai told PTI.

He said that if it continues to pour in a similar manner people would not come out of their houses.

"It has to be seen whether the chopper would be able to land or not. The situation will become clear in the next few hours," Bajpai said.

Modi, who would be visiting Varanasi for the third time after taking over as Prime Minister, is scheduled to inaugurate and launch a host of schemes worth Rs 2000 crore, including nationwide power reforms project - Integrated Power Development Programme (IPDP).

The Prime Minister, who is scheduled to arrive at 3.30 PM would inaugurate multi speciality trauma centre at BHU - the biggest in the country constructed at a cost of Rs 165 crore.

After this, he is scheduled to launch three centrally sponsored projects, including IPDP, Rs 432 crore city development plan for old Kashi and other development projects in Varanasi town worth Rs 140 crore.

Modi is scheduled to announce the first phase of ring road project of NHAI, which includes Varanasi-Lucknow four lane.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav along with Governor Ram Naik are scheduled to receive the Prime Minister at the LBS Airport at Babatpur here.

Security has been tightened around the DLW campus.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the UP police for the PM's visit to his constituency, official sources said here.

IG, Law and Order, A Satish Ganesh said DG Security, Gopal Gupta have been made in-charge of the PM's programme and 14 SP rank, 20 Deputy SP rank officers have also been deployed for the security.

Besides 15 companies of PAC, RAF and other police personnel will be deployed in Varanasi.

Modi had visited Varanasi for a day and attended Ganga arti and offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanth Temple on May 17 last year after BJP gained absolute majority in Lok Sabha polls.

Later in December, he again visited Varanasi during which the PM visited his adopted Jayapur village.