EHA, WHO, SEARO Situation Report (SR-4) 27 September 2011
Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA) Unit World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South East Asia (SEARO)
Highlights On 18 September 2011, 6:10 pm Indian Standard Time (1240 GMT), a powerful earthquake registering at 6.8 Richter Scale, epicenter at 64 kilometers north west of Gangtok with 20 kilometers below earth surface hit Sikkim, India. Tremors were felt in New Delhi and many parts of India as we as in Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
At least 86 people have been killed, 75 in India, and 11 in Nepal and over 200 are injured. Many houses and infrastructures have been damaged.
Government humanitarian organizations are trying their best to carry out rescue, relief operations and are conducting rapid damage assessments in remote areas.
WHO SEARO and Country Offices are in close contact with concerned ministries, monitoring the situation and standby to support emergency supplies and teams as needed. None of the affected countries has requested for international assistance.
Earthquake Report
Major Earthquake
Time: 6.10 pm; Indian Standard Time; (1240 GMT) Richter Scale: 6.8 (USGS) Epicenter: 64 Kilometers North-West of Gangtok Depth: 20+ Kilometers below earth surface
After Shocks
Three after shocks measuring 5.7, 5.1 and 4.6 Richter Scale were felt after the major Earthquake.
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Incident site mapping
Map showing the epicenter of the major earthquake
Situation Analysis
India was most affected by the major earthquakes. Nepal, Bhutan, China and Bangladesh felt tremors, casualties and damages were recorded.
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Causalities and Damages
Table showing casualties and damages Affected Injured Population Population Health S.N. Deaths Schools Homes countries Cases Displaced Affected Facilities 1. India 75 >300 30 285 17,679
2. Nepal 11 >100 7,000 12,000 20 1,200 3. Bhutan 15 4 36 20 Full 324 Partial Total 101
Response and recovery interventions
India
Table showing causalities and damages in India No. of houses No. of schools No. of hospitals # District damaged damaged damaged 1 North NR NR 07 FD 2 South 1000 – FD 20 - FD NR 3 East 6000 - FD 201 - FD 23 FD 9000 – PD 4 West 1679 - FD 64- FD NR TOTAL 8679 - FD 285 – FD 30 – FD 9000 – PD
Government: Over 5,000 army personnel, 700 ITBP personnel have helped in relief and rescue operations. The armed forces had rescued more than 3,000 people from quake-ravaged areas of Sikkim. India Air Force (IAF) planes including 17 helicopters were dispatched, carrying rescue teams and relief supplies to affected areas. The arrangement for airdropping of food packets is under the management of the State Govt. of West Bengal and is being carried out from Siliguri. Purnia in Bihar has also been identified as alternative site for food dropping. Teams have been deployed to all 04 districts to assess damage. Medical aid, supply of drinking water and essential commodities are not affected. Supplementary assistance is being organized. Sufficient stock of diesel, petrol and kerosene is available. The Prime Minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to each deceased person and 1 lakh each to those seriously injured in the earthquake. 05 teams of NDRF are deployed for search and rescue operations at Shipgyar, Biha and Bringbang Ramam, Lingzya and Dzongu villages in Mangan.
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Two teams of NDRF comprising 14 personnel and 16 personnel each are deployed at Chungthan and Lachung respectively.
The doctors of the NDRF team deployed at Mangan with medical detachment are providing medial relief at the camp set up at Manul Mangan.
827 Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) personnel are engaged in rescue operations and have also been running relief camps where rescued villagers have been given shelter.
The State Govt. has opened 11 relief camps. 2700 and 550 people have been provided shelter into Army camps and ITBP camp (Pengong) respectively.
A total of 5500 Army personnel located in Sikkim have been pressed into relief and rescue operations. Out of this 94 Army columns (strength of columns varies from 15-40 personnel each) are deployed for rescue operations. Rescue columns comprising 281 personnel deployed at Mangan have set up Integrated Command Centre.
A medical team comprising 19 doctors (Surgeon – 4, Orthopedician – 6, Anaesthesian – 5, Neuro Surgeon – 2, and medicine – 2) have been deployed by the Ministry of Health, Government of India from Delhi on 19th September, 2011. A team of 10 doctors reached Chungthan on 20th September 2011 and remaining 9 doctors have been deployed at STNM Hospital, Gangtok.
940 civilians have been treated at Military hospitals. 28 civilians evacuated by Army helicopters are currently under treatment at Military Hospitals.
Approx. 10,000 food packets have been air-dropped so far in the northern part of North District. Another 5,000 food packets are ready for dropping at Chungthan, Lachung and Lachen after weather clears today.
15 helicopters of Army and Air Force have been pressed into relief work. For airdropping and reconnaissance, 150 sorties have been carried out so far.
The following roads have been opened for traffic:
(i) National Highway 31-A from Siliguri to Gangtok (ii) National Highway 55 - Darjeeling to Siliguri (iii) Gangtok – Rangrang and Mangan (iv) Mangan – Chugthan (upto 12 kms) (v) Gangtok – Natu La. (56 km – 17 km open) (vi) Damdim – Alagarh – Rishi – Pedong (vii) Kupup – Natu La (viii) Pedong – Kupup (ix) Rangpo – Rorathang.
1. The following roads are still blocked :
(i) Chungthang – Lachen (22 kns.) (ii) Chungthan – Lachung (24 kms)
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Army Engineers are working for restoration of different roads.
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Landline and microwave links are operational. The present status of the operational mobile towers/BTS vis-à-vis total number is as follows. Vodafone-147(167), Reliance-41(54), Idea-42(42), Aircell-45(55), Airtel-65(69), BSNL-102(122). 3000 nos. of blankets, 400 nos. of tents, 200 stoves, 500 tarpaulin and 01 water purifier have arrived in Sikkim for distribution to the affected areas. A medical team comprising of 20 Doctors (Surgeons –04, Orthopaedicians - 07, Anaesthesians - 05, Neuro-Surgeons -02 and Physicians -02) departed for Sikkim from Ex-Delhi and reached Bagdogra at 0430 hrs on 19.09.2011. A team of 10 doctors have left for Mangan District. 4.5 tonnes of medicines/other supplies is being dispatched.
WHO: WHO SEARO and Country Office are in close contact with concern ministries, monitoring the situation and stand by to support emergency supplies and teams as needed.
Bhutan
Damages to housing properties and health facilities also reach 20 and 36 respectively. Widespread damage to school and other infrastructure is also reported. A total of 23 health felicities were damaged and the most of were in Samstse except for 2 BHUS and some out reach clinics. All health facilities are fully functional.
Nepal
The present earthquake is the biggest the country witnessed in 78 years. The affected districts included 15 districts in the eastern region, three districts in the Kathmandu valley and the remainder in central and western Nepal. The tremor was felt across 26 districts of Nepal. Mobile phone network coverage was jammed in the first few days of the earth quake but are now back to functioning normal again. There were land slides triggered by quake which blocked Mechi highway approaching to the affected areas. It had been repaired and opened back now.
Government: The cabinet meeting held in 15 mins after EQ and instructed to all district authorities to carry out Search and Rescue operation without any delay. National Emergency Operating Center was immediately activated. The team was led by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) to coordinate and to communicate with all the affected districts. MOHA organized an emergency meeting on 19 September at the NEOC followed by the Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee (CNDRC) meeting. Security personnel were mobilized for search and rescue in the most affected. CNDRC agreed to identify the needs of shelter and food for the displaced and provide 7kg rice per head, kitchen utensils and tarpaulins if needed. NPR 5,000 was provided to displaced families whose house was destroyed by the district teams during the assessments for immediate relief. NPR 5,000 will be provided from the central level as well. Additional NPR 15,000 will be provided per family depending on their situation. A total cash support was NPR 25,000 per family whose house had been destroyed and NPR 125,000 whose family member had died. Rehabilitation and reconstruction work will be conducted through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. DDRCs conducted damage and need assessment for public properties and sent details reports to the National Emergency Operating Center.
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EDCD of the Department of Health Services (DOS), MOHP, and the Curative Division of the MOHP contracted Regional Health Directors to update information and provided support needed. District health offices in the districts provided response operations in the affected areas. Free treatment provided for all injured persons. Government had distributed NPR 9,939,700 (equivalent to US$ 132,529) to 3,158 families from its Central Level Fund. Estimated losses and damages reported, as of 26 September, was NPR 74,997,930 (equivalent to US$ 999,972).
UN UNOCHA had periodic coordination meetings with Cluster Lead Agencies (CLAs), Ministry of Home Affairs and partners to exchange information and mobilize relief distribution. The OCHA Humanitarian Support Unit in Nepal is closely working with MOHA. The UN Field Coordination Office (UNFCO) Biratnagar held an emergency meeting with partners to provide updates and collate information received across the region.
Red Cross
The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) established a three member task team to communicate and coordinate the response interventions.
Map showing earthquake affected areas in Nepal
WHO: WHO EHA Unit in Nepal is keeping a close coordination with concerned ministries, CLAs and partners and have assured necessary support, whenever needed. Established coordination with Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division (EDCD), Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) to provide support if needed.
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On 19 September 2011, WCO Nepal organized the IASC Health Cluster Coordination meeting. Various health cluster partners attended the meeting and discussed various issues including revision of the existing Health Cluster Action Plan 2011. The Health Cluster is closely working with the MOHP regarding planning for joint health cluster needs assessment. All health institutions have been instructed by the government to provide free health services to people affected by the earthquake.
Sources of Information Information is gathered from the following sources. This report is for reference only and should not be quoted as factual accuracy can change. 1. WHO Country Offices 2. National, international websites and media 3. UNOCHA
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