Flood situation unabated, deaths rise

New Delhi: At least 200 people have died in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the past three days due to heavy rains and floods.

In the Nashik district of Maharshtra, destruction reached its peak with over 11,300 hectares of fertile land reportedly submerged on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra government has demanded a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore from the Centre to carry out relief operations as the death toll has risen to 97 in the flood-affected districts.

In Kolhapur and Sangli districts rains have claimed over 40 lives. In Beed district, at least 600 families from 13 villages have been shifted to safer places, after the release of 1.75 lakh cusec water from Jayakwadi dam (Aurangabad).

Flood situation in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh is being closely monitored in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the officials on Tuesday.

While, the flood related deaths in Andhra Pradesh rose to 106 on Tuesday, the state has urged the Centre to declare the calamity as a 'National Calamity'.

Helicopters, naval and country-boats have been pressed into service to reach out to over 1.15 lakh people shifted to about 300 relief camps in Nashik.

Raising the issue of floods in the zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, Venkaiah Naidu said the Godavari had crossed the danger mark and was rising, flooding many more areas by every hour.

"Usually, the Centre takes too long to act. When its teams reach the spot it is too late and at the end, a paltry amount is announced as assistance," he said.

He further criticised the Maharashtra government for suddenly opening the Koyna Dam gates, which has worsened the flood situation in the neighbouring states, and called for some mechanism and agreement on the issue.

However, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has assured the flood-affected states that a second installment from the Calamity Relief Fund would be released to them immediately. Patil further added that his ministry had already dispatched army columns to different affected areas, besides

In Mumbai, seven incidents of wall collapse and short circuit were reported in the metropolis during the last 24 hours. The harbour and main line local train services of Central railway are running about 10 minutes behind schedule, while those on Western rail route were running on time.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has said he will be visiting the flood-affected states of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh on August 10.

(With agency inputs)