WHO Country Office in India SITUATION REPORT—ASSAM FLOODS, NORTH INDIA
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WHO Country Office in India SITUATION REPORT—ASSAM FLOODS, NORTH INDIA NAME OF THE DISASTER: FLOODS DATE: 12.07.04 The state of Assam is experiencing its first phase of floods due to the incessant rains since the last week of June over Assam and the neighboring country Bhutan and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, & Nagaland. From a total of 28 districts, so far 23 districts have been affected. The districts are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Shivsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagoan, Morigaon, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Berpetta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Dhubri, Chirang, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj and Hailakhandi. Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur are the most affected districts. This flood has caused widespread damage to human life and property, standing crops, flood control embankments and basic infrastructure. CURRENT SITUATION: • A vast area of human habitation is under water in the affected districts and people have taken shelter on the embankments. • 2,794 villages have so far been affected by the first phase of floods this year, affecting a population of 2 million (5 lakhs) approximately. • Damage to homes is significant, with approximately 14,320 houses washed away and 25,000 houses partially damaged. • The official estimate of loss of human lives is 13 to date. • The total crop area affected is estimated to be 4 lakh hectares. • Altogether, 58 breaches of embankment have taken place since April 2004, of which 24 major breaches have taken place during the month of July 2004. There is a threat of a few more fresh breaches on the embankment of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries as the water level continues to rise. At present, the river is flowing above the danger level. • The situation of Barak valley is also very critical as the Kushiara and Katakhal, both the tributaries of the Barak river, have flooded vast areas, causing extensive damage in Hailakandi and Karimganj districts. • Roads and communications have been disrupted in the State, particularly in Lower Assam as flood water has submerged National Highway-31 and other State PWD roads in many places. A stretch of 81 kms has been damaged on NH-31. The road connects Abhayapur in Bongaigaon district to Chansari in Kamrup district. Similarly a stretch of one km on NH-37 in Tinsukia districts has been damaged. SITUATION IN SEVERELY AFFECTED DISTRICTS: Kamrup The entire Rangia sub-division is flooded, affecting 365,500 people, 15,650 cattle, 244 villages, and a land area of 8484.53 hectares. Breach of embankment has taken place in 10 places in the district, of which six are in the Rangia Sub-division alone of river Puthimari. Three hundred students of Navodaya Vidyalaya were rescued by IAF helicopter. Nalbari The entire district is under the grip of high floods and the situation is grave. Breach of embankments of Pagladia river at six places has flooded nearly the entire district, affecting 350 villages and population of 350,000. The district has become an island in a sea of flood water. There is no surface communication to the district. Goalpara Goalpara district has also been affected by flood water from the Brahmaputra river, which has affected large number of villages and crop areas. Sonitpur Flood waters from Bordikarai river caused extensive damage to the Bordikarai Irrigation Dam and canals. The water carried silt and timber logs over the region, and covered the paddy fields and the road connecting Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The Gohpur sub-division has also been affected. GOVERNMENT MEASURES: • All districts have undertaken relief and rescue operations. Officials from all lined departments have been asked to assist. • Army and Air Force capabilities have been utilized in the rescue operation. Three Air Force helicopters are engaged for rescue of marooned people in Kamrup, Nalbari and other lower Assam districts. Army speed boats are also utilized for rescue. • Funds have been sanctioned for distribution of relief materials, including food stuff, drinking water, medicine, fodder and veterinary care to the cattle population. • The state government has requested assistance from the railways in providing essential commodities, due to blocked road transport in several places. CURRENT NEEDS : • The state government has requested that the Central Government place three helicopters at Guwahati airport and one each in Silchar, Tezpur, Jorhat and Dibrugarh for rescue operations. • Locally available boats are inadequate for rescue operations, and the state government has requested that the Central Government airlift 300 motorized and other boats. CHANNEL FOR DELIVERY & CONTACT DETAILS: State Control Room, Assam: 91-361-2230982 (Telephone) Relief Commissioner’s Office, Assam: 91-361– 2262898 (Telephone) 91- 361 – 2261901(Fax) SOURCE OF INFORMATION: • Relief Commissioners office • UNDP Team • Media Report • NGOs in Assam .