As the flood situation worsened in southern India, the Indian Air Force on Sunday stepped up relief operations rescuing thousands of people from marooned areas.

"Our helicopters are operating despite inclement weather and heavy rains and every hour, hundreds of people are being airlifted to safety from worse affected areas of Nanded district in Maharshtra, Bhadrachalam district in Andhra Pradesh and remote areas of Chhattishgarh," IAF spokesman Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani said.

The Indian Air Force is operating one advance flight helicopter, one MI-8 helicopter and two smaller Chetak helicopters in Nanded district where rainwater have entered district headquarters. Two MI-8 helicopters each are being used in rescue missions from tribal Jagdalpur in Chhattishgarh and Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh.

"So far, 101 sorties have been undertaken and 75 tonnes of relief materials, including food, water and medicines, have been airdropped in rain devastated areas of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesha and Chhattishgarh," the spokesman said.

Army columns equipped with boats, bulldozers and engineering equippment have been rushed to Nanded and Bhadrachalam districts.