THE FLOOD situation in Orissa's deltaic plains improved as the rivers in the Mahanadi system continued to recede, with the death toll in the calamity mounting to 59 on Sunday, even as fresh areas were threatened by the rising Baitarani and Brahmani.

Official sources said people were returning to their villages in Cuttack, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts following recession of flood waters, but the process was very slow.

Heavy rains and floods, which have claimed 59 lives since the arrival of the monsoon this year, had already affected a population of over 70 lakh people.

According to revenue department sources, the Baitarani was flowing at 18.16 metres at Akhuapada this morning against the danger level of 17.83 metres while the water level of Brahmani was measured at 22.36 metres at Jenapur against its red mark of 23 metres.

Fresh floods in the two major rivers would affect a number of districts including Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Cuttack.

The administration expressed concern over the forecast by the weather office here of the possibility of heavy rains in the catchments of most rivers and also neighbouring Jharkhand state amidst the reports about rise in Baitarani and Brahmani water level.

Vast areas Of Bhadrak and Jajpur districts had been flooded earlier this month following the rise in the Baitarani system.