Flood situation in eastern India eases

The flood situation in the eastern Indian state Odisha or Orissa eased Monday but thousands of victims continued to stay in relief camps, said Indian officials. Meanwhile, several trains have been canceled in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh following heavy rains while the situation there is also reportedly improving. Odisha's special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra told the media that everything is normal Monday and flood waters were receding in most of the area while people have started returning to their homes. Over 40 people were killed in the state after it experienced heavy rainfall and flooding when Cyclone Phailin made landfall Oct. 12, and subsequently because of the low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal last week. Nearly 4 million people in 12 of state's 30 districts have been affected by the latest floods which caused rivers to overflow. In Andhra Pradesh, over 30 people were killed in the past week in flood-related incidents. Authorities have also evacuated at least 120,000 people in the two states while setting up hundreds of relief centers for the homeless and affected.