148 dead as floods batter Andhra and Karnataka

Hyderabad/Bangalore, Oct 3 (PTI) Stepping up rescue
efforts, army troops backed by IAF helicopters Saturday
shifted marooned villagers perched on rooftops to safer areas
as unprecdented floods left 148 dead in south Indian states
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

However, the situation in Andhra Pradesh's worst-hit
Kurnool and Mahboobnagar districts showed signs of easing with
the water level in flooded areas receding while rains held off
in most parts of Karnataka except in coastal areas and Bellary
district.

Sixteen people were killed and over 4.5 lakh people
evacuated as flood water inundated Andhra Pradesh's five
districts of Kurnool, Mahboobnagar, Guntur, Krishna and
Nalgonda.

In adjacent Karnatka, heavy rains killed 132 people in
the last six days and flooded 15 districts flattening more
than one lakh houses.

Though the number of deaths in Andhra is 16, the toll
is likely to go up once authorities access those areas which
still remain cut off, Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao said.

Rescue personnel evacuated 1.5 lakh people in Kurnool
district, 1.34 lakh people in Mahaboobnagar district, 15,000
people in Krishna district and 5,000 flood victims in Guntur
district.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah said the
situation in Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts improved with
water levels receding. (more) PTI DVB
SDE


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.