Rescue efforts on as flood claims 240 lives in Karnataka, AP India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Heavy rains and floods over the past week have spread havoc across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra , and so far have claimed over 240 lives. Floodwaters from the Krishna River have cut the town of Vijaywada off from the rest of Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna River contains over 10 lakh cusecs of water received from the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. The Vijaywada's Prakasam Barrage has not received this much water in over a decade. The water level touched 21.4 feet at Prakasam Barrage and all the 72 sluice gates have been lifted to let the water out into Bay of Bengal . Chodavaram village, which is located on the downstream of Prakasam Barrage, about to be submerged. However, there is no threat to lives as the district administration is shifting people residing in lower areas to safer places. Two more villages near Thotalvalluru also face a severe threat as river embankment is found to be weak. The situation has improved in Karnataka. State Chief Minister B.Y.Yeddyurappa announced that his government would construct over 2,00,000 houses for flood affected people. Torrential rains over last one week have left over 200 people dead and rendered over 3,00,000 people homeless in the state alone. The floods have affected all 14 districts of state's northern region. The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, is likely to undertake an aerial survey of the flooded-affected regions of the state on Tuesday. Officials in Bangalore said the bodies were recovered late last evening from the districts of Bellary , Uttara Kannada, Raichur, Dharwad, Koppal and Gadag among others.