Varanasi, Aug. 7 -- The Ganga water level in Varanasi is receding at a rate of 2 cm per hour but remains 80 cm above the danger mark, according to the Central Water Commission. At 6 PM on Wednesday, the river flowed at 72.02 metres in Varanasi, continuing the downward trend.

With the flood situation still serious, the district administration has deployed 80 boats to assist residents in affected areas, including 20 motor boats, 44 large boats, 5 medium and 11 small boats. Additionally, five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are operating with 19 motor boats.

Floods have damaged crops over 1,898 hectares, impacting 7,037 farmers. The assessment of crop losses is ongoing.

The flood has affected 53 villages and 28 wards ...