Even as river levels in Orissa fell slightly on Wednesday, over 3 million people remained affected by the swirling waters of the Mahanadi.

The floods so far have claimed 21 lives, official sources said. Eleven people drowned in the floods, seven died in wall collapses and three deaths were caused by snake bites.

Floods in neighbouring Chhatisgarh, from where the Mahanadi originates, have increased the inflows into the Hirakud reservoir forcing the authorities to open 36 sluice gates to release over 600,000 cusecs of water into the river.

The discharge will keep the coastal plains flooded for the next 72 hours.

The good news is that it has stopped raining in both upper and lower catchment areas of the Mahanadi.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the situation is improving. "I hope and pray that it does not rain anymore," he told reporters at the state secretariat.

Earlier report: Orissa flood situation worsens