Toll rises to 61 in K'taka as seven more bodies are recovered

Relief operations are in full swing in flood-ravaged districts of Karnataka, where the toll has gone up to 61 with seven more bodies recovered on Wednesday, as the rains abated in some areas.

While 15 people are still classified as missing, nearly seven lakh people have been evacuated till date.

According to the state government, inflows into the reservoirs are steadily decreasing, and flood situation has improved in the affected districts of north, coastal and Malnad regions, where the rain fury had created mayhem in the past one week.

"Relief operations are in full swing and senior officers camping in the districts to oversee the relief operations," an official release said.

Damaged roads are being restored on war footing for movement of men and materials, it said, adding that stability of schools and anganwadis are being assessed by engineers in flood-affected areas.

Joint rescue team comprising Fire and Emergency, SDRF, NDRF and Army have evacuated 6.97 lakh people as on Wednesday.

As many as 1,096 relief camps are operational, where clean drinking water, food and other relief materials are being provided to 3,75,663 people housed in them.

According to the government, 103 taluks in 22 districts have been affected by floods and incessant rains in the past few days, resulting in loss of agriculture and horticulture crops on 4.69 lakh hectares and damaging 58,620 houses.

Meanwhile, the CM's Relief Fund has received Rs 4.09 crore donation towards flood relief.