Rescue operations are in full swing in the flood affected areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, even as the death toll has risen to 208. Army, Navy and Air force personnel have intensified rescue operations as torrential rains have left behind a trail of death and devastation in these states. While 156 people lost their lives in Karnataka, 33 were killed in Andhra Pradesh and 19 in Maharashtra. Bijapur district in Karnataka was the worst hit with 30 people perishing in the torrential rain and floods followed by Bagalkote 20 and Raichur 19. Koppal and Gulbarga bore the brunt of heavy rains for the past six days. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa asked the Centre to declare the unprecedented rainfall and flood situation as a national disaster and release 10,000 crore rupees for relief measures. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, he submitted details of the situation due to rainfall and floods in 14 districts of Northern Karnataka. An all party meeting will be held on Sunday to take stock of the situation. <br/><br/>In Andhra Pradesh, the flood situation is improving in Kurnool and Mahaboobnagar districts, even as hundreds of villages in Krishna, Guntur and Nalgonda are still inundated. The state administration has stepped up rescue operations deploying over 600 Defence personnel and about 1000 swimmers with the help of Air Force helicopters and about 260 boats. Massive relief operations are also underway. Food and drinking water is being airdropped to lakhs of people who are stranded in marooned areas. About 4 lakh people are taking shelter in relief camps set up in flood-hit districts.<br/><br/>In the unprecedented floods, over 60 000 houses were damaged and 18 lakh people affected in about 500 flood hit mandals and standing crops in lakhs of acres have been inundated. The state Government has announced an ex-gratia of one lakh rupees to the families of victims and immediate assistance in cash and kind to the families who lost their homes. Chief Minister K. Rosiah has said that the authorities are leaving no stone unturned to reduce the human and property loss. Heavy rain also continued to lash several parts of Maharashtra's coastal Ratnagiri district.<br/><br/>In Kerala, flash flood has affected normal life at 6 places in Kozhikode district. Landslides were also reported at many places in the district.<br/><br/>In Goa, large parts of the state are lashed with heavy rains for the third day yesterday with people remaining trapped in their houses.<br/><br/>In Orissa, flood water is receding fast in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. But, Jalaka, Kansabansa, Sona and Budhabalanga rivers are still flowing above the danger level. <br/><br/>Met office says the southwest monsoon is vigorous in east Madhya Pradesh, Konkan, Goa, coastal Karnataka and Kerala and active in Orissa, central Maharashtra and coastal Andhra Pradesh. <br/>