India: Floods and Landslides - Aug 1998

The UN Resident Coordinator in New Delhi reports that a massive landslide, triggered by incessant rains, wiped out Malpa village in Pithoragarh district of Uttar Pradesh on 18 August 1998. At least 180 people, including 60 Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrims and eight Indo-Tibet Border Police personnel were feared killed. The pilgrims were staying in a camp when the landslide occurred between Zipti and Sia lake in Kumaon hills, at around 3 a.m. Among those believed killed were 14 women pilgrims and six employees of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam which organises the annual pilgrimage. The Defence Ministry has despatched helicopters to locate the missing and airlift the injured and the dead. Over 300 people, including 150 pilgrims, stranded at various points on their way to Mansarovar, are likely to be airlifted back to the plains following the disaster, according to official sources. The Control Rooms have been set up in Pithoragarh for monitoring relief and rescue work, and in Delhi, for providing information. Further landslides have reportedly caused more deaths in the region. (OCHA, 20 Aug 1998)

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in New Delhi, reports that the water level of some rivers in the Assam State is now receding and the flood situation is improving, with exception of the Salmara Mankachar sub-Division, in the Dhubri district, where the situation is still critical. Road and rail communications with the rest of the country are still cut off. In the Uttar Pradesh State, river Ghaghra was flowing 30 cms above danger level. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of India, as of 15 September 1998, floods affected approximately seven million hectares of land, of which some 3.3 million hectares of crops. As of 16 September 1998, approximately 36 million people have been affected, and about 3,000 people have been killed. Floods also affected seriously the housing sector, with about 852,000 houses partially/totally damaged. Some 74,000 animals have also been killed as a result of the floods. (OCHA, 22 Sep 1998)