Rapid Assessment Report Bihar Flood 2013 Details of Assessment Areas: Date of Visit District Block Panchayat Village Population Laloo 06-09-2013 Bhagalpur Sabour Rajendipur 100 families cakk/modipur 06-09-2013 Bhagalpur Sabour Farka Farka 500 families 07-09-2013 Bhagalpur Nath Nagar Bairya Rashidpur diyara 400families 07-09-2013 Bhagalpur Nath Nagar Bairya Mohanpur 250 families 07-09-2013 Munger Bariyarpur Kalyan Tola Kalyan tola I 609 families 07-09-2013 Munger Bariyarpur Kalyan Tola Nadiya tola 300 families 08-09-2013 Bhojpur Baraiya Nakmatola Nakmatola 35 families 08-09-2013 Bhojpur Baraiya Bakhrapur Dalit tola 26 families Assessment Team Members Members Specialization Anjan Bag Thematic Officer, Disaster Management Girish Peter Program Officer, Livelihoods Fr. Sushil Modi Social Worker, Community Mobilization Karloose Besra Program Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction Nal Shiv Kumar Program Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction Mr. Mani Social Worker, Community Mobilization Ms. Priyaka Kumari Program Officer, Gender Background: Bihar is India’s most flood-prone State, with 76% of the population in the north Bihar living under the recurring threat of flood devastation. According to some historical data, 16.5% of the total flood affected area in India is located in Bihar while 22.1% of the flood affected population in India lives in Bihar. About 68,800 square kilometers (26,600 sq mi) out of total geographical area of 94,160 square kilometres (36,360 sq mi) comprising 73.06% is flood affected. Floods in Bihar are a recurring disaster which on an annual basis destroys thousands of human lives apart from livestock and assets worth millions. The 2013 Ganges flood in Bihar started showing its effect, based on the data of disaster management department, as of now, more than 44 lakh people in 3,768 villages in 12 districts of the state majorly affected, other than 8 districts which is partially affected. The floods already have claimed 125 human lives, but other sources notes the death toll reached up to 201. Damage Overview Housing: According to DMD figures, 1.6 lakh houses were fully or partially destroyed across the districts. The estimated damage is Rs. 14.4 crore. Of these, the Bhagalpur, Munger, Bhojpur and Katihar were the worst hit with over 95 percent of the reported damage. Agriculture and Livestock: Floods in Bihar have not only caused loss of man and material but also destroyed several hectares of crop, leaving the farmers doomed. According to an official estimate, crops in over 1 lakh hectare of land have been damaged in the floods with the total loss being pegged at a whopping Rs 150 crore. And this figure is expected to rise further in the coming days. Banana farmers are the worst hit as over 1,500 acres of banana crop have been destroyed in districts of Vaishali and Bhagalpur alone. Paddy and maize crops have also been washed away in the flood-hit areas. In addition to these sectors, major damages were caused to the livelihoods, health, education, social, and environment sectors. Over 90 percent of the flood affected population was dependent on agricultural livelihoods which were severely affected. Educational infrastructure and scholastic calendars were affected in all districts, and regular curative and preventative health services disrupted Name of Flood No. of Flood Affected Human No. of Animal District Deployed affected Human Population (in lives Treatment Boat Animal(in Madical lakh) Lost Camp lakh) Camp Bhagalpur 5.96 192 12 0.53 21 5 Katihar 13.92 322 11 1.01 96 14 Saran 2.46 146 0 0.01 14 10 Patna 1.98 229 7 0.02 - 0 Bhojpur 6.47 307 26 0.28 11 10 Buxur 0.75 132 2 0.01 24 5 Vaishali 2.68 263 14 0.01 10 0 Begusari 2.95 250 16 0.32 18 Name of Flood No. of Flood Affected Human No. of Animal District Deployed affected Human Population (in lives Treatment Boat Animal(in Madical lakh) Lost Camp lakh) Camp Khagaria 0.97 89 5 0.2 39 14 Munger 2.93 109 21 0.09 6 13 Samistipur 1.28 211 9 0.79 13 5 Lakhisarai 1.18 60 2 0.01 0 Total 44 2310 125 3 252 76 Findings and Observations General: During the assessment it is found that - • Flooding has been primarily caused by continuous heavy rainfall in Ganga basins resulting excess water level in Ganga and its tributaries in Bihar overflowing embankments in July and August 2013. • As rain stops in upper catchment areas the water level of the Ganga & its tributaries started decreasing and the flood water also started residing from the villages as on 9th September. • The flood caused havoc in all villages as slowly entered and water logged for more than 60 days. In Munger Kalyan toal GP Community in Lallu chack, previously they were inhabitant of flooded in 6 ft for 63 days. in general all Modipur , complete eroded to Ganga of Sabour block villages found to water logged for more than 60 days. • Affected people have taken shelters on nearby schools, National highways in Munger and Bhagalpur. Most of the camps are spontaneous and set up by the community itself. There is a village called Modipur of Rajedndripur GP under Sabour Block of Bhagalpur were completely eroded and 342 families were permanently displaced, and 100 families settled in lallu chak and other are nearby high places. • Government response has been observed in the form of 50 KG rice, 50 KG wheat and 1500 Cash grant for all affected families in general. • Flood water starts receding and people have started returning to their houses in some of the villages, especially in the cases of Bhojpur district. r view of Mohan pur of Nathnagar block of • The process of cleaning inundated houses has Bhagalpur…250 families stagnant for 35 days initiated by the community. • It will be only a matter of few days, most of the people will be able to go back to their homes expected those completely eroded or washed away which could be maximum 5-10%. • Due to water logging in Nakmatola areas in Baharia block of Bhojpur 35 Dalit families are cut off from the main stream, and found to be regular for them every year. As per local community, 16 houses were completely damaged. Government has provided food items to the affected families. In Kalyan tola village in Munger people have made their own bamboo bridge for the solution of cut off. • For affected people who have lost the current crop (and harvest) may require some support until the next cropping season. But detail agricultural damage assessment has not been conducted yet and no compassion package declared. • During the assessment it is found that 30% people from relief camp had shifted to their original broken homes. • At least 30% have lost their houses. They will need support in repair/reconstruction and this should need to be advocated with the government if there is no support being provided Furious camp inmates on the arrangement of to them. the cooked food in Sabour town • Cattles were on the roads and embankments. Shelter: • It has been found that the houses which made of foos (thatch roof) have collapsed or about to be collapsed, in some villages the water eroded the entire land (modipur) and some household assets were washed away. People are able to save household items due to slow onset flood. • People had to take shelter in the relief camps established in schools and in roadside. • Tarpaulin has been distributed by the government (12 for each ward) to the affected families but the quality and quantity is not sufficient and up to the mark. In Muger the Kalyantola of Munger District tarpaulin packed and kept road, and Mukhiya feared to have problem due to less in number. • It was also observed that where water receded, people have started cleaning and repairing their houses on their own. • Out of the entire affected families in the villages visited in 3 districts, approx 25- 30% were displaced and living on the roadside, schools. With waters receding, people have started returning to their homes, thereby bringing down the number of persons in the relief camps. • Overall 25- 30% thatch roof houses damaged, and yet no compensation announced by the government. For the displaced population will take time for them to leave the shelter. Recommendationsse of Mr. Umakant Ram in Bakhrapur GP of Description and Cost per family Bahrya block of Bhojpur GP Tarpaulin is required for displaced families in affected blocks as the Tarpaulin 12X 15 size , @ Rs 500 quality of the tarpaulin provided by the govt is not enough (quality & Quantity). Support for shelter repair only for the thatch roof fully damages Cost of bamboo ( 10 for each family, houses cemented poses ( 8 per family ) Bamboo each Rs. 65 and cemented poles 6 @ 250 and 2 @ 350 Advocacy for resettlement of the permanently displaced families. Monitor the implementation by PRI and local administration of any compensation package declared by government. If not, advocate for a compensation package for the affected families Food security and livelihood • As per the affected people, damage to the Kharif crop, maily maize is the significant livelihood problem. It is estimated by the community per Bigha loss is about Rs.25.000, this includes input cost with selling price. • In all areas, agricultural land is still water logged and expected to remain so, and as per the local people, they have to wait for winter crop which is wheat and vegetable. • However, no immediate food insecurity is observed as families are coping through existing food grain stock or relief provided by the government.