Lucknow, Aug 20 (IANS): The famous Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi has been flooded, leading to an abrupt closure of cremations, an official said on Saturday.

The rising water of the Ganga has submerged the Harishchandra Ghat as well, leading to chaos as people from across the state and elsewhere bring the dead to these ghats for cremation.

Manikarnika Ghat is one of the oldest ghats in Varanasi and it is said that burning of the funeral pyres stopped has never here. The pyres are now being burnt in the narrow lanes near the ghats.

The electric crematorium at the Harishchandra Ghat was closed by the district administration on Friday as water entered its premises.

The flood situation in many localities of Varanasi continues to be grim and the district administration has opened five relief camps in Saraiyan, Dhelwaria and Nagwan and 36 flood posts.

District Magistrate Vijay Karan Anand led a team of officials on Saturday morning to survey the flood situation in many parts if the district.