Lucknow, Jul 17 (IANS): Floods in parts of the state continued to devastate the countryside and the death toll in flood-related incidents touched 144, officials said.

Rivers in Bahraich, Barabanki, Gonda and Basti continued to be in spate. Flood waters have entered many villages, displacing thousands. The river Ganga is nearing the danger mark in Allahabad, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ballia and Ghazipur.

Despite predictions by the regional met department of impending rains, the weather in Lucknow and nearby areas continued to be extremely hot Wednesday.

The day temperature recorded Tuesday was at 35 degrees celsius, the highest in the last three weeks.

This was for the first time after June 25 that the mercury breached the 35 barrier in Uttar Pradesh. While the weatherman predicted some rains in the past week, only sporadic drizzles occurred here and there. High moisture content in the air and humidity made the weather intolerable.

The met office said humidity levels would continue to be around 95 per cent Wednesday. However, heavy rains would lash the state capital and adjoining areas over the next two days.