Varanasi, Aug. 8 -- Boatmen in Varanasi are facing severe hardship as boat services on the Ganga River have been suspended for the past 20 days due to rising water levels.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, boatman Suresh Sahni said boating may remain suspended for another couple of months and appealed for government support.

He said, "Our condition is very bad right now; we are somehow managing. The boating will stay closed for two more months. The government is not providing us with any support. It has been almost 15-20 days since the boating has been closed, and no one has come to see how things are."

"Our only demand is that the boatmen should be supported... The government claims to help the poor, but we don't receive any assistance," Sah...