Floods: 230 Die, Over One Million Displaced in K’nataka, Andhra, Maha
Torrential rains and resultant floods, which wreaked havoc in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, have claimed more than 230 lives so far, with mover one million people being displaced.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is scheduled to undertake an aerial survey of the flood-affected states on Monday to take stock of the damage.
Thought rain stopped 24 hours ago, situation continues to be grim in north Karnataka. Death toll in Karnataka alone has exceeded 180. According to reports, more than 3,00,000 people have displaced in nearly 14 districts of the state.
Demanding a relief package of Rs 10, 000 crore, B S Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Chief Minister, has asked the Centre to declare the unprecedented rainfall and flood situation as a national calamity.
In addition, chief minister, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, submitted details of the devastation created by the rains.
It may be mentioned that the central government on Sunday deployed more than 250 specially trained National Disaster Relief Force personnel to the state.
Flood situation in Andhra Pradesh is, however, improving in worst-affect Kurnool and Mahaboobhnagar districts, but hundreds of villagers in Krishna, Guntur and Nalgonda are still inundated.
The state government has announced an exgratia of one lakh rupees to the families of victims and immediate assistance in cash and kind to the families who lost their homes.
Heavy rains have also lashed the districts in Konkan and southern Maharashtra.
In Goa, large parts of the state are lashed with heavy rains for the third day with people remaining indoors. According to media reports, over 250 houses have collapsed in the state in last one week.
In Kerala, flash flood has affected normal life at 6 places in Kozhikode district. At the same time, landslides were reported at many places in the district.
In Orissa, floodwater is receding fast in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. But, Jalaka, Kansabansa, Sona and Budhabalanga rivers are still flowing above the danger level.
The Indian Air Force has deployed eight MI-8 and six Chetak helicopters for the rescue and relief operations in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Army has deployed 600 personnel and about 1000 swimmers and 260 boats for rescue operations in flood hit areas.
Meanwhile, on late Sunday evening, the IAF copter airlifted a man clinging to a tree for more than 72 hours in Raichur District of Karnataka.
The young man identified as Ramesh climbed a tree to escape the flood fury and clung on for life for 72 hours until a rescue chopper finally showed up.
