The flood situation continued to be grim in Uttar Pradesh with rivers flowing above danger mark in several regions leading to inundation of low lying areas.
The situation in Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ballia was critical as flood waters of the Ganga and the Yamuna had entered low-lying areas of the cities and Army had been kept on a standby.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to remain vigilant and ensure relief and rescue measures in flood-affected areas, including in Prayagraj and Varanasi.
Yogi, who himself reviewed the situation in Ballia, asked the authorities to shift people from low-lying areas to safer places.
“Engineers of Irrigation department should monitor the embankments so that overflowing rivers do not breach them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Central Water Commission on Wednesday issued a flood alert for Uttar Pradesh in districts where the water level was within danger level.
The CWC said that Ganga river at Ballia was flowing at a level of 59.34 metre, 1.73 metres above the danger level. It said the Ganga river was also flowing around the danger mark in Ghazipur while the river was flowing 0.05 metre above danger mark at Phaphamau in Prayagraj.
Similarly, the Yamuna river was flowing over danger mark in Banda, Kalpi  and Hamirpur while showing a rising trend in Auraiya.
The Ghaghra river continued to flow above the danger level while at Ayodhya and the  river was rising at Elgin Bridge in Barabanki.
Heavy rains over the past few days have caused the rivers to swell.
A senior official said authorities in Allahabad and Varanasi had been asked to make all necessary arrangements to deal with the situation and flood ‘chowkis’ had been activated to monitor the water levels in the rivers.
A report from Banda district said continued rainfall in the Bundelkhand region and release of water in Yamuna had led to flooding in many areas in Hamirpur, Banda and Chitrakoot districts.
Yamuna, Ken and Betwa rivers are in spate and several acres of agricultural land has been submerged.
At least 14 people were killed in rain-related incidents, including lightning and drowning, in the state on Tuesday.