Food packets flown from Bangalore for flood-hit north Karnataka

The death toll in the rain and floods since Wednesday in Bijapur, Raichur, Belgaum, Bidar, Gulbarga, Koppal, Bellary, Davangere and Chikballapur districts was officially put at 101. However, unofficial reports say it is over 140. Karnataka has 29 districts. "Six helicopters, 32 boats with 105-member rescue teams of the National Disaster Management Agency are engaged in rescue operations in the affected places," a spokesperson of state disaster management committee told reporters on Saturday.

He said 455 food centres have been set up in the affected districts. The committee had no information on the number of people marooned, the official said. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Saturday undertook an aerial survey of the affected districts as rail and road communications remained paralysed for the fourth day.There was a heavy downpour in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada as well, though no deaths have been reported there.