Nearly 605 villages across 24 districts have been declared flood-affected as major rivers continue to flow above the danger mark in Uttar Pradesh.

According to official sources, the number of flood-affected villages in the state went up to 605 in 24 districts.

Relief commissioner Ranveer Prasad said that the Ganga was flowing above the danger level at Badaun, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, and Ballia districts.

The Yamuna was flowing above the danger mark in Aurraiya, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Banda, and Prayagraj districts while the Betwa river was flowing high in Hamirpur, he said.

The Sharda river continued to flow above the danger mark in Lakhimpur Kheri and so did the Kuwano in Gonda and the Chambal on the Uttar Pradesh-Rajasthan border, he added.

Seventy-five villages were flooded in Hamirpur district, followed by 71 in Banda, 67 each in Etawah and Jalaun, 42 in Varanasi, 38 in Kaushambhi, 37 each in Chandauli and Ghazipur, 25 in Aurraiya, 24 each in Kanpur Dehat and Prayagraj, 23 in Farrukhabad, 20 in Agra and 17 in Ballia district.

Prasad said villages were also flooded in Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Sitapur, Mau, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Bahraich, Gonda, and Kanpur districts.

The state government has deployed nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in nine districts, 11 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in 11 districts, and 39 teams of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in 39 districts for relief and rescue operations, the relief commissioner said.

The NDRF and SDRF teams rescued 536 people and 504 medical teams were deployed in the flood-hit areas, he added.

Besides, 11,235 flood posts and 940 flood shelters were set up in the state and 1,463 boats pressed into service for relief and rescue operations, he said.

A state government spokesperson said food packets and dry rations were being distributed among the people in the flood-hit areas.

“Regular patrolling is being conducted in the villages as well as on the river embankments and other sensitive spots. The district administrations have been directed to set up community kitchens. A regular supply of essential commodities like petrol, diesel, kerosene, and edible items is being maintained in the flood-hit areas,” he said.