India SITUATION REPORT - FLOODS NATURE OF HAZARD : FLOODS Tamil Nadu experienced two weeks of continuous rainfall owing to a depression developed over east-southeast Bay of Bengal, that had moved closer to the state's coast, causing heavy rains and flash floods in low-lying areas of south coastal districts of Tamil Nadu of and Pondicherry. The affected districts in Tamil Nadu are: Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Perambalur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Puducottai, Ramanathapuram districts , low-lying suburban areas of Chennai city and Karaikal area of Pondicherry. DAMAGE DETAILS: Particulars of Damages in Tamil Nadu Total No. of Taluks affected 101 No. of Revenue Villages affected 3690 No. of Village Panchayats affected 3192 No. of Special Panchayats affected 167 No. of Municipalities affected 53 Population affected 2346147 No. of Villages marooned 1205 No. of families marooned 254076 No. of persons marooned 782558 No. of huts fully damaged 35841 No. of huts partly damaged 73854 No. of human lives lost 162 No. of cattle / livestock lost 929 Cuddalore: 100 villages have been inundated and 200,000 people marooned. The worst affected areas in the districts include Sethiathope, Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil and areas along the banks of Paravanar and Vellar Rivers. At many places communication network has been disrupted. Nagapattinam The heavy rains in the catchment areas of Kollidam River (a major river flowing along the border of Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts) had risen to flood warning level. 42 Village Panchayats in Kollidam Block (the Block situated in the northern end of the district bordering Cuddalore district and along the banks of Kollidam River) covering Alakudi , Mudalaimedu , Mahendragalli, Kattur , Paichalpuram , Aanaikaranchatram , Gopalasamudram , Soliakudi , Maduriveli , Akaraielathur , Vadarangam , have been affected. Transportation The main bridge connecting Chidambaram in Cuddalore district and Sirkali in Nagapattinam district has been submerged. Roads within the district have been breached. Vehicular movement has been disrupted and closed along some sections of eastern part which connects Chidambaram in Cuddalore district while western section of the area, i.e. towards Mayiladuthurai town remains opened. The main bridge connecting Chidambaram in Cuddalore district and Sirkali in Nagapattinam known as the Kollidam Bridge is opened for light vehicles such as SUVs and cars which connects l Chidambaram. However the bridge remains closed for heavy. Rail routes along the broad gauge lines between Chennai Egmore –Trichy- Pallavan and Madurai have been cancelled. The metre gauge rail route between Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai – Villupuram is also cancelled while diverted rail routes have been opened for rail traffic Via Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Trivandrum, Ernakulam Town, Shoranur B, Erode, Jolarpettai, Arakonam, Chennai Beach, Chennai Egmore. Standing crops have been damaged the Cauvery delta districts. Breaches have developed along several embankments of tanks and lakes Paddy Crop fully affected in hectares 284126.35 Paddy Crop affected more than 50% and less than 100% in hectares 91427.39 Paddy Crop affected less than 50% in hectares 131951.15 Area of other crops affected 39666.54 No. of River banks and Channels breached 2383 No. of tanks breached 5947 Length of Highways roads damaged (in K.Ms) 3692.148 Length of Municpalities roads damaged (in K.Ms) 589.159 Length of Panchayat roads damaged (in K.Ms) 5506.838 Length of Special Panchayat roads damaged (in K.Ms) 633.945 No. of culverts / bridges damaged in Highways 446 No. of culverts / bridges damaged in Panchayat Unions 1833 No. of public buildings damaged. 816 Sitrep – Flood- Tamil Nadu -28 November 2005 India ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES: Cuddalore: The Army, Coast Guard and Navy personnel have been deployed for relief operations and rescued 100,000 people marooned in the worst affected areas. The District Administration is functioning round the clock to provide necessary assistance for the flood-affected people. Boats have bene deployed for the rescue and relief operations. The evacuated people are housed in government and public buildings opened as relief camps. Nagapattinam: The District Collector, Additional Collector, and Superintendent of Police have been camping in Kollidam Block (the northern most block of the district) keeping a close watch on the situation. Some of the villages have experienced breaches along the banks and have been evacuated. Around 15,000 people living along the banks have been evacuated to safer places as a precautionary measure and are currently staying in schools, community halls, marriage halls, etc. Food and relief items are being made available under the supervision of revenue officials. 50,000 people have been moved to safer places. And 17 relief centres have been opened. The largest relief centre is located in Puthur Polytechnic housing around 5,000 people. No. of people evacuated 961223 No. of shelters / centres opened 1227 The state Chief Minister made an aerial survey of the marooned villages in and around Cuddalore districts and visited the affected areas in Neyveli, Cuddalore. The stat administration sanctioned compensation to the affected people, and distribution of relief materials, including rice, kerosene and Rs 2000 cash at relief centres The central team including the Union Home Minister, Union Finance Minister made an aerial survey of the nine flood-affected districts. The Union Finance Minister assured that the state would be sanctioned funds to undertake relief work in three phases of rescue/relief operation, providing shelters and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has requested central assistance of Rs 30,000 million The district administration has conducted a preliminary damage assessment based on which above figures have been reported. The revenue machinery of the district administration has been handling the situation. CHANNEL FOR DELIVERY AND CONTACT DETAILS Revenue Administration, Source: Disaster Management & Disaster Mitigation Department, Disaster Management Department, Tamil Nadu Ezhilagam, Chepauk, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Chennai - 600 005. For Further Information: G Padmanabhan Emergency Analyst, UNDP E-mail: [email protected], Mobile: 91 – 98104 02937 http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/ Sitrep – Flood- Tamil Nadu -28 November 2005 .