India floods: 10,000 families evacuated in Varanasi

River Ganges flowing above 71 metres, submerging houses and the holy city’s famous ghats

Floodwater surrounds houses on the banks of the Ganges after heavy monsoon rain in Prayagraj, India. AP

At least 10,000 families have been evacuated from low-lying areas of the Hindu holy city of Varanasi after severe flooding in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.

An increase in waters levels led to the Ganges flowing above the danger mark at slightly above 71 metres at the weekend, pushing the water into low-lying urban areas and submerging the famous ghats and nearby houses, officials said.

People at some of the ghats — stone slab steps down embankments along the river bank — have moved makeshift crematoriums to higher ground after the water level submerged the river banks known for holding hundreds of cremations round-the-clock.

Authorities said more than 80 villages were submerged and 228 hectares of farmland on the banks of the holy river were flooded.

More than 2,600 people were moved to 16 flood relief camps set up by the state government, while 6,600 had moved of their own accord.

Kaushal Raj Sharma, district magistrate of Varanasi, said 4,000 households have moved their belongings to upper floors or other locations as the river's water level surged.

Mr Sharma said the administration had increased patrolling and monitoring of the river, with about 60 boats engaged in relief work.

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  Dozens of people were killed in north-eastern India in floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rain at the weekend. AFP

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  Severe damage to a road in Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh state. AP Photo

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  At least 22 of the official death toll of 50 were killed in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, where heavy rains have wreaked havoc. AP Photo

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  A flooded bridge after heavy rain in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Reuters

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  Nearly 750 roads were damaged in landslides and flash floods, state officials said. AP Photo

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  People wade along a flooded street near the banks of the Ganges in Allahabad. AFP

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  This bridge was washed away by high and fast-flowing waters in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Reuters

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  State chief minister Jairam Thakur visited Kashan village on Monday and said: 'I am still in disbelief with the level of destruction and damage … it is unbelievable.' AFP

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  Residents move their belongings to drier ground in the Daraganj area of Allahabad. AFP

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  The scale of the monsoon rain set new records. AFP

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  During a 12-hour period from Friday into Saturday, 333 millimetres of rain fell on Dharamsala district, beating a 64-year record by 17mm. AFP

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  Youths living in a low lying area on the banks of the Ganges float through a flooded street in Allahabad. AFP

Scores of medical teams have been sent to flood-hit areas with life-saving medicines and anti-venom kits.

Varanasi is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and is Hinduism's holiest site.

Millions of Hindus visit the city, particularly the banks of the Ganges, to practise religious rituals and seek salvation.

More than 1,100 people have died in India this year due to flooding and landslides, the government said last month.

At least 50 more were killed in northern Himalayan Himachal Pradesh and eastern Jharkhand and Odisha. More than 800,000 people were displaced from their homes in Odisha’s Balasore.

Torrential monsoon rain has this year been wreaking havoc in parts of the Indian subcontinent. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the extreme floods in Pakistan this month and millions of others displaced.