BEIJING - The water level rose remarkably in the upper Yangtze River after heavy rain, yet remains below the warning level, said the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in a statement on its website.

Jialing River, a key branch in the upper Yangtze River, also suffered sharp-rising water levels after heavy rain, said the statement.

Rain-triggered flooding has ravaged Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces in recent days. The headquarters has dispatched four task forces to the affected regions.

Heavy rain in Sichuan has left eight people dead since June 30, the provincial flood control office said on Thursday.