The flood situation in Karnataka eases, but remains grim in Krishna, Guntoor and Nalgonda districts of Andhra Pradesh. 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 Karnataka mounted to 194 with recovery of 26 more bodies, in Andhra Pradesh 52 persons lost lives in unprecedented floods. 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 the states. Promising all help, Mrs. Gandhi said that the Centre and the State governments should join hands to provide relief to the victims.<br/><br/>In Andhra Pradesh, 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, who accompanied Mrs. Gandhi for aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Kurnool and Mahboobnagar districts, has urged the Centre to provide 6,000 crore rupees for relief works immediately. AIR Hyderabad correspondent reports that the heaviest flood in over 100 years in the Krishna River continues to inundate fresh areas, even as week-long rains showed signs of abating.<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. Our 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 tomorrow.<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 rain has claimed 25 lives in Maharashtra so far.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Centre today 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 kerosene 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.