Modi cancels visit to Varanasi due to heavy rainfall

Heavy downpour forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel his visit here today for which he expressed his apologies to the people of his Lok Sabha Constituency. It has been raining heavily here since last night and the entire DLW ground, where the Prime Minister was scheduled to address a public meeting and launch a few projects, is heavily waterlogged.

Modi was to arrive here this evening to inaugurate and launch a host of schemes worth Rs 2000 crore, including nationwide power reforms project - Integrated Power Development Programme (IPDP).

He was also scheduled to inaugurate multi-speciality trauma centre at BHU - the biggest in the country constructed at a cost of Rs 165 crore and other development projects in Varanasi town worth Rs 140 crore.

The Prime Minister tweeted after conclusion of his trip to Hazaribagh in Jharkhand where he laid foundation stone for Indian Agriculture Research Institute.

Was eagerly awaiting the Varanasi visit but unfortunately due to the weather I had to cancel. Sincere apologies to the people of Varanasi.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2015

"We have received a telephonic communique from the Prime Minister's Office regarding cancellation of his visit," Divisional Commissioner R M Srivastava told PTI.

Modi was to visit Varanasi for the third time after taking over as the PM last year. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was scheduled to welcome the Prime Minister at the airport at Babatpur here.

Elaborate security arrangements had been made by the UP Police for Modi's visit to his constituency.