Bhubaneswar, July 23 - The death tally in Orissa's flash floods, due to nearly two weeks of incessant rains, went up to 41 Thursday even as the officials said the water level has started receding in most of the rivers and streams.

'The death toll has risen to 41,' D.N. Sahu, officer on special duty in the state revenue control room, told IANS.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro said: 'The weather has improved considerably during the past two days. Water levels have started receding everywhere.'

Patro added that the main task before the government is to repair the embankment breaches and the roads damaged by the flash floods.

The heavy downpour over the last two weeks flooded many of the state's rivers and streams. Several areas, in eight of the state's 30 districts, were cut off.

'Some of them have already been restored. Efforts are on to repair the rest,' Patro said.