Home ministry despatches more men and helicopters to flood-hit areas

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil is likely to visit the flood affected Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh tomorrow.

Ministry sources said the programme would be finalised tonight.

Meanwhile, the ministry had provided one more helicopter to Andhra Pradesh for use in relief and rescue operations. Two helicopters of the IAF had already been in service at Bhadrachalam in the state.

Two army columns were also despatched to Bhadrachalam where the flood situation was said to be grave.

Sources said four helicopters had already been provided for operations in Nanded in Maharashtra, while eight navy boats are kept in reserve in Mumbai.

Flood-hit Yavatmal has been provided with two helicopters.

One army column each will despatched today to Nanded, Parbani, Yavatmal, Wasim and Jalna in Maharashtra.

One army column each has already been deployed in Sangli and Kolhapur.

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