Chidambaram to visit flood affected Karnataka and AP tomorrow

As the flood situation in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh continues to be grim, home minister P Chidambaram will undertake an aerial survey of the two affected states for an assessment of the damaged caused by the natural disaster.

Chidamabaram, who is currently in Tamil Nadu, is also expected to hold meetings with the chief ministers of both states BS Yeddyurappa (Karnataka) and K Rosaiah (Andhra Pradesh) -- and other top officials in Bangalore and Hyderabad, official sources here said.

Senior Home ministry officers are in constant touch with the state authorities and other agencies. The situation is being monitored on round the clock basis by the MHA control room, sources said.
   
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has allocated an amount of Rs 139.36 crore to the Calamity Relief Fund for Karnataka for 2009-10, comprising Rs 104.52 crore as Central contribution and Rs 34.84 crore as state contribution.
    
The Centre has also sent 249 water rescue-trained personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for Karnataka along with 73 inflatable motorised boats deployed in the districts of Bagalkote, Raichur, Gadag and Bijapur for rescue and relief operations.

Further, 250 water rescue-trained personnel and 60 inflatable boats of NDRF from Gandhinagar are ready to be airlifted, the sources added.

So far, the death toll in the calamity has risen to 205 in both the states.