Flood death toll reaches 52 in Maharashtra:CM

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Aug 7 (UNI) Incessant rain playing havoc for the last three days in the state has claimed 52 lives so far, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said here today.

Addressing a joint press conference with Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil before leaving for Mumbai, Mr Deshmukh informed that about 1.05 lakh people have been evacuated from the 643 flood affected villages during the relief and rehabiliation operations from various flood affected districts of the state.

These people have been shifted to the temporary sheds set up by the aurhorities at the respective places.

The Chief Minister and his deputy, who arrived here in the morning from Mumbai to undertake an aerial survey of the flood affected districts of Marathwada and Vidarbhha, could not do so due to bad weather.

Both of them monitored relief and rehabilitation work in the flood affected areas from the 'Subhedari Guest House' here.

The Chief Minister also held meeting with top officials during his stay, official sources said.

Mr Deshmukh and Mr Patil assured of every assistance from the government to the flood affected people of state.

The duo informed that eight helicopters have been pressed into service to rescue the stranded people while 16 boats of navy and 50 boats belonging to the state government were engaged in the rescue operations.

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