NEW DELHI: With rain-fed rivers receding and a merciless sun beating down, the flood fury in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh abated further whereas 700 people were evacuated on Saturday from an Orissa town where Vansadhara river flowed close to the red mark.
Though the death toll touched 178 in Uttar Pradesh, the situation in the eastern region, where over 2,300 villages were inundated, eased, thanks to practically no rains in catchment areas.
The water level of major rivers, which rose menacingly affecting nearly five lakh hectares of land in 22 districts, also receded even as relief operations continued. In Bihar, where up to 15 million people in 7,225 villages were hit by the flood, the situation steadily improved with the sun shining brightly in the past few days.
Indian Air Force choppers and over 5,000 boats were still engaged in relief and rescue operations in the State where more that 200 people had died.
As many as 700 people were evacuated from Gudari town in Orissa’s Rayagada district as Vansadhara river swelled.
It was flowing near the red mark and was constantly rising, officials said. — PTI
