Flood toll at 225 in 4 states; relief ops intensify in K'taka, Maha but no respite in Kerala

The death toll in flood-affected states mounted to 225 on Tuesday, with 91 perishing since August 8 in Kerala where more rain has been forecast, even as the weather in deluge-hit Karnataka and Maharashtra improved, allowing authorities to speed up rescue and relief operations.

Odisha, which is being battered by heavy showers since last week, on Tuesday saw a flood-like situation in parts of the state and the forecast is of more rains in the next two days.

Besides Kerala, 54 have died in Karnataka, 49 in Maharashtra and 31 in Gujarat in floods and related incidents. Two rain-related deaths were also reported from Uttar Pradesh where several parts saw heavy overnight showers.

In Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Malappuram and Kozhikode as extremely heavy rains are expected in central areas of the state. The flood-hit northern parts are limping back to normalcy, officials said.

Due to strengthening of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, extremely heavy rains are expected to lash several parts of the state, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Thiruvananthapuram K Santosh said.

The state government update on Tuesday put the death toll at 91 since August 8 and said the toll is likely to go up as 59 people are still missing.

Rescue operations in Maharashtra's flood-hit Kolhapur and Sangli districts are over, officials said, adding that with waters receding, the focus is now more on providing essential supplies to the affected people.

The death toll in five western Maharashtra districts over nine days due to flood-related incidents reached 49, officials said