"The fall is gradual and by tomorrow we expect water to recede from the colonies in the Dayalbagh area," an official said.

 The impact of the flood has been devastating in the rural areas, with many villages still cut off.

 "The media has focused attention on the urban areas, but the situation in the countryside is deplorable with men and animals facing all sorts of health problems. Fodder is scarce in so many villages in the Etmadpur and Barauli Aheer blocks. Rescue operations are confined to paper only.

 Villagers are complaining of lack of attention," said green activist Ravi Singh who visited many villages inundated by the flood water.

The situation in Bah tehsil is frightening and called for urgent attention, villagers at the divisional commissioner's office said. "We have brought it to their notice. In so many villages there is still four to five feet water. The crop has been totally destroyed," said a farmer Ram Lakhan.

District magistrate Amrit Abhijat said teams had been rushed and efforts were on to provide speedy relief.

Water level fell in Mathura and Vrindavan, but it will be some time before the flooded low lying areas become habitable. "A large number of villages on both sides of the river Yamuna are still under water," said Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan. Several voluntary groups like Sri Krishna Janam Sansthan, Gayatri Tapobhoomi, Agrawal Sabha, Gau Seva Samiti are providing food and fodder to the victims of the flood. Thousands of packets of food have been distributed in the villages by the volunteers.