Bangalore, Oct 5 (IANS) Three days of rain and floods in Karnataka have caused damage of around Rs.16,500 crore besides leaving 195 people dead, it was officially stated Monday.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is camping in the northern districts - the worst affected in the rain and flash floods that hit 15 of the state's 29 districts Wednesday - will undertake a 'padyatra' (walk) in Bangalore Oct 7 and 8 to seek funds from the people, Home Minister V.S. Acharya told reporters here.

The ministers in-charge of the districts and legislators will also undertake similar padyatras in their areas to collect funds from the public, he said.

Acharya said over 240,000 houses and crops in 25,000 hectares have been damaged in the rain and flash floods caused by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Over 4,500 head of cattle have also perished.

Acharya said Congress president and United Progress Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and central Home Minister P. Chidambaram have suggested that the state send a team to Delhi to discuss the issue of central assistance.

The suggestion was made when Yeddyurappa met Gandhi and Chidambaram after the two made an aerial survey of Bellary district, one of the worst hit areas Monday, he said.

A team led by state chief secretary S.V. Ranganath will visit Delhi Oct 8, Acharya said.

Donations have already started coming in and two religious institutions have agreed to build a few thousand houses in the affected areas, Acharya said.