Patna, Jul 17 (IANS): With the water level in major rivers receding, the situation in flood-hit Bihar showed signs of improvement on Wednesday.

"There is some improvement in the flood situation. The flood water that spread to large areas is receding, relief and rescue operations are underway for the affected people," an official of the state disaster management department said here.

So far, 33 people have been killed and 26 lakh affected in the floods that have spread to 12 districts.

Reports also said that flood waters have inundated more areas as water from the rivers flowing from Nepal breached embankments and submerged roads at several places in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Madhubani districts.

As per a report by the state water resources department, the water level in Bagmati and Kamla Balan has receded. The water level is also decreasing in the Mahanand and Kosi rivers and their tributaries.

However, the water level is rising in the Burhi Gandak and Ganga rivers, it said.

With hundreds of villages submerged and thousands of people displaced, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed officials to provide speedy relief to all the affected people.