Rescue operations are in full swing in the flood affected areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, even as the death toll in rain-related incidents has risen to 216. Army, Navy and Air force personnel have intensified rescue operations. Eight MI-8 and six Chetak helicopters were moved from the airbase in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The choppers, which have made around 60 sorties, have so far evacuated 50 persons to safer places and distributed around 22 tonnes of relief material. AIR correspondents reports that while 156 people lost their lives in Karnataka, 37 were killed in Andhra Pradesh, 21 in Maharashtra and two in Goa.<br/><br/>Bijapur district in Karnataka is the worst hit with 30 people perishing in the torrential rain and floods followed by Bagalkote 20 and Raichur 19.Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has asked the Centre to declare the unprecedented rainfall and flood situation as a national calamity 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. The CM also reviewed the flood situation in Bijapur on Sunday morning, in which district MPs and MLAs participated.<br/><br/>Speaking to the press after the review meeting, Mr. Yeddyurappa informed that Prime Minister is likely to conduct aerial survey of flood affected areas in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on 6th of this October.<br/><br/>In Andhra Pradesh, death toll due to unprecedented floods to River Krishna rose to 37. It is likely to go up further in Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Krishna and Guntur districts where about 15 lakh people have been affected due to the floods following heavy rains. Over 70 thousand houses and standing crop in about 15 lakh acres of fields have been damaged due to inundation. About 6 lakh people have been evacuated from low laying areas even as hundreds of villages in the flood-hit districts are still marooned. The flood situation is further improving in Kurnool and Mahboobnagar districts while the situation in Krishna and Guntur districts is still continuing grim.<br/><br/>Heavy rains have also lashed the coastal and southern districts of Maharashtra claiming at least 21 lives so far. Maharashtra Chief Secretary Johny Joseph said that at least 19 people were killed in 24 hours till Saturday evening. 72 people were also rescued from various parts of the state in the same period. <br/><br/>In Goa, large parts of the state are lashed with heavy rains for the third day on Saturday with people remaining trapped in their houses. The flood unleashed by incessant rains for last three days led to collapse of 250 houses and claimed two lives in the Canacona taluka.<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 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. Chandigarh and its surrounding areas in Punjab and Haryana experienced moderate rain on Sunday in the afternoon. The met office has predicted rain in the region till Tuesday. Agriculture experts feel that this rain will be harmful to the standing crops.<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.