India Floods

Information bulletin no. 1

6th October 2009

The Secretary General of the IRCS reviewed the flood situation in the country today in which along with officers of the society all partner Red Cross Societies and the IFRC and the ICRC also participated. The Secretary General informed that the heaviest floods in more than 100 years have hit parts of the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The death toll due to heavy rains and rampaging floods have galloped to 205 and displaced 750,000 people within one week. The other states affected during the monsoon from the month of July are Maharashtra, Goa, Bihar & Orissa. In Andhra Pradesh eleven, Karnataka 14, Maharashtra 3, Bihar 7, Orissa 4 and in Goa 1 district have been affected

Several towns and villages, particularly in Kurnool, Mahabubnagar and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh, have been inundated by the mighty Krishna river and its tributaries over the past five days. All the reservoirs built across the Krishna river have been receiving heavy inflows resulting in to opening of their gates and submerging hitherto areas unknown to flooding.

Heavy cloud formation over the Arabian Sea to the west of India's southern peninsula and a depression over the Bay of Bengal in the east have caused the unusually heavy rains, according to the Meteorology Department. Relief camps were set up in schools and temples located on higher ground in the flood-affected districts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to house over 400,000 people. More than 1,400 people have died across 19 of India’s 28 states during the monsoon rains this year. Thousands of people are reported missing, with many more still stranded. Casualty figures are expected to rise.

With a let up in the rains, the flood situation in north Karnataka has begun to ease abit. However, all dams in the region remain full and rivers carrying water to Andhra Pradesh remain swollen. At least 169 people have died in the floods since 2 October. In the 15 affected districts – Belgaum, Gulbarga, Bijapur, Raichur, Dharwad, Bagalkote, Bellary, Koppal, Haveri, Bidar, Gadag, Davanagere, Karwar, Dakshina and Kannada – thousands of people remain in shelters as their homes have been destroyed. The state government's 589 relief centres currently house 177,000 people. More than 17 villages in Bijapur district

– the worst affected in the state – are marooned, with more than 10,000 people being left homeless.

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Current Status

  • Population affected 41(Lakh) approx.
  • Number of Human Lives lost 355
  • Number of districts affected 50
  • Number of life stock lost 1659
  • Crop Area affected 292223 (ha)
  • Total Value of damage: 54351 lakh

Facts & Figures

Particulars / Name of the State
Andhra Pradesh / Karnataka / Bihar /

Orissa

/ Goa
Population affected / 13,00,000 / 4,53,000 / 18,38,000 / 5,00,000 / 5000
No. of Villages affected / 91 / 252 / 1877 / 1580
No. of human lives lost / 56 / 178 / 63 / 56 / 02
Estimated Value of Damaged crop in Lakh / 128.39 / 51840.1 / 2382.8 / Unavailable
No. of relief camps / 06 / 30 / 6035 / 80
No. of person Evacuated / 4025 / 849 / Unavailable / 62200
No. of Houses damaged / 494 / 13325 / 5101 / 12547
No. of cattle/livestock lost / 490 / 1167 / 02 / Unavailable
Crop area affected by (in hectre) / 23993.2 / 137230 / Unavailable / 131000

Action Taken at IRCS NHQ Level

  • National Headquarters along with its State branches is closely monitoring the situation
  • Secretary General held a video conference with the officials of the affected State branches.

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  • Family packs amounting to INR 11.88 millions released that included 1000 family packs to Bihar, 5000 to Andhra Pradesh including 2500 stoves and 2000 blankets and kitchen sets to KarnatakaState branch.

.

NHQ assistance to BiharState Branch

Sl.No

/ Name of Item / Total Quantity
Released / Warehouse
1 / Bed Sheets / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
2 / Cotton Blankets / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
3 / Gents Dhotis / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
4 / Saree / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
5 / Kitchen Sets / 1000 set / Bahadurgargh
6 / Mosquito Nets / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
7 / Plastic buckets / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
8 / Tarpaulin pieces / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh
9 / Towels / 1000 Pcs / Bahadurgargh

Appx cost of relief items provided is INR 16,82,000 on 10th Sept 09.

NHQ immediate assistance to AndhraPradeshState Branch

Sl.No

/ Name of Item / Total Quantity
Released
1 / Mosquito Nets / 5000 Pcs
2 / Gents Dhotis / 5000 Pcs
3 / Tarpaulin Sheets / 5000 Pcs
4 / Bed Sheets / 5000 Pcs
5 / Cotton Blankets / 5000 Pcs
6 / Towels / 5000 Pcs
7 / Saree / 5000 Pcs
8 / Kitchen Sets / 5000 Pcs
9 / Plastic buckets / 5000 Pcs
10 / Vicky Stove / 2500 Pcs

Appx Cost of relief items provided is INR 91,30,000 on 5th Oct 09

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NHQ immediate response to Karnataka State Branch

Sl.No

/ Name of Item / Total Quantity
Released
1 / Woolen Blankets / 2000 Pcs
2 / Kitchen Sets / 2000 Pcs

Appx Cost of relief items provided is INR 10,70,000 on 6th Oct 09

Response at State Branch level

Emergency Operation Centre’s activated at Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Orissa. State Disaster Response Teams and DM Staff placed on call. The branches have mobilized trained volunteers who are taking part in the Inter Agency Group meetings for information sharing in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa & Bihar and are involved in activities such as coordinating relief distribution, search & rescue, disinfecting the potential water sources etc. The branches are working closely with State Govt. in rescue and relief operation.

AndhraPradeshState Branch Response

  • Initiated collection and dispatch of relief items donated locally, to affected district branches.
  • Mobilised volunteers from non-affected districts.
  • Distributed food packets and water to the flood affected victims in Kurnool and Mehbubnagar Districts.
  • Procurement of 1000 kitchen sets under process at State branch from donations received.
  • The branch has dispatched relief supplies consisting of 2,18,880 glucose biscuit packets, 2,100 kgs rice, 3600 candles, 1000 dhotis, 175 tarpaulin sheets, 900 towels, 700 sari, 144 torches, 16 kg oils and dry ration

IRCS Disaster Preparedness & Response Mechanism Operationalised

  • National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) – trained two teams - on stand by.

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  • National Disaster Watsan Response Team (NDWRT) – 22 Members trained - on stand by
  • National Logistics & Warehouse Management Team - 18 Members trained
  • Watsan Units –Large : 16 Units & Small 6 units ready for deployment. Requirement being assessed.

Watsan Units Pre positioning

Sl.
No / Name of the Unit & No.s / Location / Status / Capacity
1 / Berkfield -2 Units / Bahadurgargh W/house / Functional / 5000 ltr/hr
2 / NOMAD - 1 Unit / Bahadurgargh W/house / Functional / 3000 ltr/hr
3 / LMS – 3 units / Bahadurgargh W/house / Functional / 4000 ltr/hr
4 / LMS – 1 units / Bahadurgargh W/house / Under Repair
5 / Vivendi / Bahadurgargh W/house / Under Repair
6 / Portable Unit - 3 / Bahadurgargh W/house / Functional / 70-80 ltr/hr
7 / NOMAD - 2 Unit / Bahadurgargh W/house / Functional / 4500 ltr/hr
8 / Portable Unit - 3 / Deployed at WestBengalState Branch (Cyclone Aila July 09)
9 / LMS – 1 units / Arakkonam W/house / Functional / 4000 ltr/hr
10 / SETA -4 Units –at disposal to W.B / Salt Lake W/house / Functional / 5000 ltr/hr
11 / SETA -1 Units / Deployed at WestBengalState Branch (Cyclone Aila July 09)
  • Large Watsan Units : 16 Units
  • Small Hand operated : 6 Units

The IRCS (NHQ) is keeping a close eye on the situation and shall review the position periodically.