Kerala, K'taka, Maharashtra heave sigh of relief after floods recede

After days of incessant rains, the situation improved in many parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra on Tuesday with water receding in affected areas.

MAHARASHTRA

IMAGE: A villager unloads relief materials from a helicopter for distribution in flood-affected Kolhapur district. Photograph: PTI Photo

-- As of Tuesday, 6.45 lakh people had been shifted to safety in Kolhapur and Sangli districts

-- The death toll in five western Maharashtra districts over nine days due to flood-related incidents reached 49, with 24 dead in Sangli (with discovery of five new bodies), 10 in Kolhapur, 7 each in Pune and Satara and one in Solapur

-- The state government said it will seek assistance of Rs 6,813 crore from Centre

IMAGE: Defence personnel during their rescue and relief works in flood-hit Shirol taluka of Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. Photograph: PTI Photo

-- As many as 105 roads and 46 bridges are still closed for vehicular movement in five western Maharashtra districts

-- Over 7,600 livestock animals including cattle were killed in the floods

-- The floods have also taken a toll on ATMs in these districts, with 334 out of 647 machines not working

KARNATAKA

IMAGE: Naval rescue team rescue residents from flooded Chandur Village in Belagavi. Photograph: ANI Photo

-- The toll rose to 54 and nearly four lakh people lodged in 1,151 relief camps

-- Focus by and large has now shifted to relief and rehabilitation work, with officials now concentrating on restoring road connectivity, power and water supply

-- A total of 100 taluks in 21 districts are affected due to floods and rains in the state, where 1,151 relief camps have been opened giving shelter for nearly four lakh people

-- Joint rescue teams comprising Fire and Emergency, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force and army have evacuated 6.97 lakh people as on Tuesday

-- As many as 55,325 houses have been damaged, and agriculture and horticulture crop loss (preliminary assessment) stands at 4.45 lakh hectares

-- The state government has requested the Centre to immediately release Rs 3,000 crore to take up the relief and rehabilitation work

KERALA

IMAGE: People cross a flooded street during heavy rain in Kannur. Photograph: ANI Photo

-- The toll in floods and landslips in Kerala rose to 91

-- A total of 2.26 lakh people, who were displaced by the floods and landslides, have been housed in 1,239 relief camps

-- A red alert has been issued for the rain-battered Malappuram and Kozhikode on Wednesday

-- Governor P Sathasivam has cancelled the 'At Home' function scheduled to be held on August 15 at the Raj Bhavan as part of Independence day celebrations

-- At least 11,159 houses have been damaged partially in various parts of the state and 1057 fully in rain-related incidents

-- A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in nine districts -- Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kannur, Kottayam, Alapuzha and Idukki -- on Wednesday as heavy rains have been predicted and many schools have been converted as relief centres