Water levels in flood-devastated Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka continued to recede today as the administrations carried out relief and rescue operations on a war-footing while the death toll in the two states due to the unseasonal rains rose to 269.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sanctioned ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the deluge. He will make an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

The brunt of the rain fury in Karnataka was borne by Bagalkot district with 33 deaths followed by Bijapur (31), Raichur (30), Gulbarga (21), Kopal (20), Bellary (19), Belgaum (12), Gadag (13), Karwar (11), Davangere (7), Dharwad and Bidar (3 each), Chikballapura (2) and Dakshina Kannada (1).

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa continued to camp in the affected areas, monitoring and overseeing relief and rescue operations. He said in Gadag that villages prone to frequent floods would be permanently relocated.

Yeddyurappa, who along with Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy continued aerial survey of the flood-hit districts, told reporters that farmers affected by the rains would be provided seeds at 75 per cent subsidy for sowing operations of the rabi crop.

"This subsidy will be extended not only to small and marginal farmers but to all farmers," he said.

He said he had directed revenue officials to hand over the compensation cheques to affected farmers in accordance with the Central government norms within 10-12 days.

"The families which have suffered partial damage to their houses will be given Rs 5,000 each while those whose houses have collapsed Rs 7,000 each," he said.

Around 2.5 lakh houses have either collapsed or been damaged by the torrential rains for a week with as many as 1.8 crore people affected in 1,490 villages where 6.60 lakh people rendered homeless had been sheltered in 1,619 camps.

In Andhra Pradesh, the death toll rose to 63 even as the situation improved and outflows from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar projects were being reduced gradually.

The highest number of 38 deaths were reported in Kurnool district, followed by 20 in Mahabubnagar district, three in Nalgonda and one each in Krishna and Guntur, Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao said in Hyderabad. Over 25 villages were submerged in water.

"The impact of reduction in outflows from Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar would be visible from tonight onwards below Prakasam barrage," Rao said.

"From around 11 pm, flow below Prakasam barrage is expected to show a receding trend from the peak level of record 10.9 lakh cusec. Present level is 21.6 feet as against 22 feet observed last night," he said.

The government, however, stressed the need to keep a vigil along the flood banks during the receding of water as the soil tends to slip.

He said as many as 16,20,398 people were affected by the floods, which damaged 62,286 houses. The search and rescue operation involved 805 army personnel, 439 boats, 1,576 swimmers and 19 helicopters. As many as 5,27,172 people were evacuated to safer places and 3,59,799 people taking shelter in 275 relief camps, Rao said.

A 50-ft breach caused to the embankment of Krishna river at Oleru near Penumudi in Guntur district became a major cause for concern as the flood water gushing through it left more than 25 villages inundated in Repalle and Bhattiprolu mandals.

The state government has demanded an interim aid of Rs 6,000 crore from the Centre.

Meanwhile, President Pratibha Patil called up both Yeddyurappa and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah and inquired about the flood situation in the states and the impact. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke to them and offered to ferry the flood relief material by trains free of cost.

Earlier, Home Minister P Chidambaram, who visited flood-hit areas of the two states, said the governments may utilise the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) immediately and once 75 per cent of CRF is exhausted, they may draw on the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

'Declare Floods as National Calamity'

BJP asked the Centre to declare the floods as a "national calamity" and demanded the relief package of Rs 5,000-crore each to these states.

"It is a time for Centre and State governments to work together to restore normalcy and provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected people in flood-hit areas," Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, who arrived this evening after conducting an aerial survey of flood-hit areas, told reporters.

Naidu undertook aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Kunrool and Mahabubnagar districts in Andhra Pradesh and Bellary and Raichur districts in Karnataka.

Referring to situation in flood affected areas in Andhra Pradesh, he said restoration of drinking water supply, power and road link are a big task for the government.

Naidu, a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, announced to donate Rs 10 lakh for flood relief in the BJP-ruled state. He also donated Rs one lakh to Andhra Pradesh.