Overall flood situation is improving: Govt

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July 08, 2005 17:11 IST

There is an overall improvement in the flood situation in various parts of the country though two districts of Madhya Pradesh are still affected.

An inter-ministerial team will be visiting Gujarat on Monday to assess the damage caused by heavy rains, said Union Home Secretary Vinod Kumar Duggal on Friday after a meeting to review the flood situation in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar.

The Centre has so far released over Rs 180 crore to Gujarat, Rs 37 crore to HP and Rs 95 crore to MP, where Panna and Damoh districts continue to be affected by rain water, he said.

Duggal said efforts were being made to transport the ready peas and apple crop from HP as the flood waters could harm them and did not rule out the possibility of airlifting the two items.

Telecommunication and road links had been restored almost completely in Gujarat, he said, adding drinking water was being provided in marooned villages.

Army and Indian Air Force choppers were continuing rescue operations in the state.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab river was flowing one foot below the danger mark, while the Ravi river was flowing 11 feet below it.

Duggal said the Ujh river in Kathua was also flowing below the danger mark and all the 20 people stranded in Kathua had been evacuated.

He said the Defence Ministry had been informed to contact the state chief secretary for extending necessary assistance if required.

About HP, Duggal said 105 foreign and 128 domestic tourists were reported to be marooned at Sarchu and near Bharatpur due to blockage on the highway.

"Efforts are being made to rescue them," he said, adding that 96 foreign and 691 domestic tourists had already been evacuated from Kinnaur district.

Two IAF and one Border Security Force helicopters had been provided to the state government for relief and rescue operations.

The flood situation in Bihar was not as bad as in the previous year and the Centre was monitoring the situation, he added.

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