The flood situation in West Bengal improved further on Sunday as water started to recede in majority of the rivers in the worst-hit Howrah, Hooghly and West Midnapore districts. The toll, however, rose to 34 since July 21 following the death three more people in the state, officials said. A senior official in the state’s Disaster Management Department said that nearly 25 lakh people were affected in about 170 villages in 11 flood-hit districts. The flood was mainly caused by heavy rains earlier this week, triggered by a huge low pressure trough, and water released by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) through its dams along the course of the Damodar river in Bihar and Bengal. Nearly 68,000 people have taken shelter in 221 relief camps set up in the flood-hit districts, he said, adding that the past few days, the upper catchment areas have received little rainfall. West Bengal Irrigation Minister, Rajib Banerjee, said water had started receding in majority of the rivers in the worst-hit Howrah, Hooghly and West Midnapore districts. “The total release of water by the entire DVC system was 50,000 cusecs on Sunday. There is no report of any fresh inundation,” he said, adding steps had been taken to distribute relief materials in the flood-hit areas. He, however, struck a note of caution, saying that the situation might worsen anytime if it rained again and more water was consequently released by the DVC system. “Many people have been rescued from affected areas like Ghatal in West Midnapore district, Pursura, Arambagh and Khanakool in Hooghly district and Amta and Udainarayanpur in Howrah district,” he said. Yesterday, an Indian Air Force helicopter was deployed to rescue flood-affected people at Ghatal in West Midnapore district, he said. The state government is yet to estimate loss incurred by farmers as over 2.5 lakh hectares of agricultural land lies submerged. Odisha flood toll rises to 7 The flood toll in Odisha rose to seven with the death of three more people in Jajpur district, even as the water level in river Brahmani receded at some places on Sunday. According to reports from Jajpur district, three people — Kusa Pradhan of village Khairadiha, Sonu Dalai of Badasulidiha and Ranjit Mallick of Makeipur — lost their lives in the flash flood in the district, an official statement said. One person of Nilakanthapur gram panchayat of Kendrapara district is reported to be missing in river Brahmani. A Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) team is engaged in the search operation, they said. Four persons, two each in Kalahandi and Malkangiri districts, had died in the flood earlier. Water level in river Brahmani has receded by more than a foot in Kendrapara and Jajpur districts. Barring these two, situation in all other districts is normal. At least 15 gram panchayats of Bari block were affected due to a breach on Brahmani left embankment at Kimbhiriapal gram panchayat on Saturday. About 1,600 people have been evacuated to safe shelters at eight places, while many others in the inundated areas have taken shelter in the houses of their neighbourers, a senior official said. Free kitchens have been opened for the flood affected and dry food like ‘chuda’ (flattened rice) and ‘gur’ (jaggery) are being distributed wherever necessary. Around 50 MTs of cattle feed has been sent to Bari block. Another 50 MTs of cattle feed has been sent to Balasore district, the official said. In Kendrapara district, seven gram panchayats of Pattamundai block namely Penthapal, Alapua, Taradipal, Singhagaon, Rahulia, Andhara and Nayadia have been marooned due to flood water. Water level of river Kharasrota is in receding trend near Aul in Kendrapara district, he said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had on Saturday directed the officials to ensure that flood-hit people in Rayagada and Bhadrak districts get house damage assistance within three days.