Wednesday, October 26 2005 16:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka today (Oct 26, 2005) kept the army as standby to assist it in rescue and relief operations in the flood hit areas as the state has been experiencing unprecedented downpour and urged the Centre for Rs 500 crore interim financial aid.

After chairing a high level meeting to chart out immediate and long term measures against floods, which has left a trail of destruction in seven districts including the city, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh told reporters that 26 relief centres have been opened here to provide shelter to the affected.

While Bangalore City Corporation is maintaining nine relief centres, 17 were in operation in seven City Muncipal Council limits, he said, adding that more than 3000 persons have been rehabilitated in these centres.

He said torrential downpour has claimed 26 lives including six in the city.

Singh said Rs five crore each has been released to Mysore, Chamarajnagar, Kolar, Mandya, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban and Hassan districts, the worst hit in the rains.

Singh said the government was alert to the situation and has directed officials to rush to the rescue of the affected.

He said after rains subside, the state would compile a detailed report on the extent of loss and submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking assistance for relief operations.

Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash said in some districts sub-standard works and encroachment of tanks were to be blamed to floods.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education R Ramalinga Reddy, who has been overseeing relief operations in the city, said 211 houses have collapsed in the city.

In CMC limits, 8802 houses have been inundated and 374 damaged, he said.

The government has procured two heavy duty pump sets with 30 horsepower capacity from Chennai to drain out water in marooned areas in the city, an operation which was nearing completion bringing relief to residents in water logged areas.

Meanwhile, the people of the city had a respite today following let up in rains, but overcast skies caused anxiety in the rain-weary citizens.

The city experienced a record rainfall in the last four days, paralysing normal life and vehicular movement, as several localities were flooded.

The government was also in the process of preparing an action plan to prevent recurrence of this year's experience in the city.

The government in the meantime set up a disaster management cell to oversee relief works in affected areas.