Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ visit to his constituency, Varanasi on Sunday was cancelled following a heavy downpour which drenched the entire eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal) since morning. Mr. Modi was to reach Varanasi from Ranchi in Jharkhand at 3.15 p.m. and was scheduled to unveil a host of projects for his constituency, as well as for other parts of Uttar Pradesh. As per the earlier schedule, the Prime Minister was to depart for New Delhi at around 5.50 p.m.
During his three hour long stay in Varanasi, the Prime Minister was to have gifted his constituency with schemes worth Rs. 2000 crore. Upon his arrival to Varanasi, Mr. Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the 345 bed trauma centre at the Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University (BHU). After the inauguration of the Trauma Centre, Mr. Modi was to have addressed a public meeting at Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) grounds where he was to have announced the Integrated Power Development Project (IPDP) and laid the foundation stone of the first phase of Varanasi Ring Road and the development of road from Babatpur airport to Varanasi.
However, heavy rains in and around Varanasi led to the cancellation of the Prime Minister’s visit. The decision to cancel Mr. Modi’s visit was taken by the authorities after a thorough inspection of the places which were to be visited by the Prime Minister. The venue of Mr. Modi’s public meeting was completely waterlogged and the temporary helipad where his helicopter was to land was also submerged. The venues were inspected by the Power Minister, Piyush Goel, the Varanasi district officials and the security personnel.
