Flood situation in Andhra Pradesh improved as water levels receded substantially, Chief Minister K Rosaiah said last night. Talking to reporters Mr Rosaiah said the outflow of water in Tungabhadra, Sunkesula, Narayanpur and Jurala projects came down substantially.<br/><br/>The authorities had evacuated more than one-and-a-half lakh people, even as Chief Minister K. Rosaiah announced doubling of compensation to two lakh rupees to the next of kin of flood victims. Mr. Rosaiah, has urged the Centre to provide 6,000 crore rupees for relief works immediately <br/><br/>UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Promising all help, Mrs. Gandhi said that the Centre and the State governments should join hands to provide relief to the victims.<br/><br/>The death toll in rain related incidents rose to 246 so far in both the states. While the toll in the 15 affected districts in Karanataka mounted to 194 with recovery of 26 more bodies, in Andhra Pradesh 52 persons lost lives in unprecedented floods. <br/><br/>Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddurappa, who accompanied Mrs. Gandhi for aerial survey of ravaged areas in Bellary district said that the state has suffered an unprecedented damage exceeding 20 thousand crore rupees. He also complimented the Centre for extending all assistance in the form of helicopters, boats and National Disaster Response Force teams to carry out relief and rescue operations. AIR Bangalore correspondent reports that External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said that he will apprise the Prime Minister of the grim situation in the state. Dr. Manmohan Singh is likely to undertake an aerial survey of the flood hit regions today.<br/><br/>On the other hand, heavy rains continued to lash various parts of Maharashtra including Nasik and Kolhapur districts bringing relief to farmers. Meanwhile, life is moving back to normalcy in Konkan and western Maharashtra. Heavy rainhas claimed 25 lives in Maharashtra so far. In Gujarat, as many as 12 persons have died after cyclonic winds with rain and thunderstorm lashed south Gujarat and Saurashtra regions in the last 24 hours.<br/><br/>Centre in the meantime rushed additional trained personnel and motorised boats for rescue operations in the affected districts. All three wings of the Armed Forces are conducting round-the-clock rescue operations besides distributing food and medicines to the marooned people in the affected areas. The Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has directed state fuel retailing firms to maintain uninterrupted supplies of kerosine and LPG in the flood affected areas. The Railways have decided to divert Karnataka Express and Bangalore-Rajdhani till 9th of October in view of damaged tracks in Karnataka.<br/><br/>