India: Floods and Landslides - Jul 2024

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issues active monsoon warning with heavy to very heavy rainfall warning over Northwest, East & Northeast India during next 4- 5 days. In Assam, as per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, major river Brahmaputra is flowing above the flood level due to heavy rain. 19 districts are affected with floods, with more than 640,000 population affected. ASDMA has opened 72 relief camps and 64 centers and managing the immediate needs. (ECHO, 2 Jul 2024)

Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning have affected north-western India, in particular the Uttar Pradesh state, on 9-10 July, causing severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage. According to media, as of 13 July, 38 people died due to lightning strikes, including 11 in Pratapgarh, seven in Sultanpur, six in Chandauli, five in Mainpuri, four in Prayagraj, and one each in Auraiya, Deoria, Hathras, Varanasi and Siddharthnagar districts in south-eastern Uttar Pradesh. In addition, 20 people have been injured. (ECHO, 15 Jul 2024)

Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning continue to affect north-western India, in particular the Uttar Pradesh state. As of 15 July, the National Coalition of Humanitarian, Development and Resilience Actors in India report 54 fatalities, 250,000 displaced people and 1.8 million affected people across 923 villages in 16 districts. In addition, media report that the water levels of the Rapti River in Gorakhpur, Budhi Rapti River in Siddharth Nagar, and Quono River in Gonda are above the danger threshold. (ECHO, 18 Jul 2024)

Cloudburst on July 25 causes heavy rainfall and flooding across parts of India, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. Casualties reported include three in Gujarat, four in Maharashtra, with media indicating higher numbers: 49 in Himachal Pradesh and 61 in Gujarat since June 2024. National Disaster Management Department records 464,532 people affected and 3,638 houses damaged as of July 24. State Governments lead search and rescue efforts, seeking additional relief support. (ECHO, 26 Jul 2024)

On 30 July, a series of landslides triggered by the monsoon rainfall occurred in the Wayanad district (Kerala state, southern India) and resulted in casualties and damage. According to media, at least 41 people have died, 70 others have been injured and a bridge has been destroyed. In addition, the landslides have cut off at least four villages, including Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha. (ECHO, 30 Jul 2024)

[...] Media reports confirm that at least 123 people lost their lives, while 70 others sustained injuries. [...] In response, authorities have initiated relief operations, including the deployment of two Indian Air Force helicopters to assist in rescue and relief efforts. The situation remains critical, with heavy rainfall forecasted to continue across most parts of Kerala for the next 24 hours. (OCHA, 31 Jul 2024)

The humanitarian impact is increasing after a series of landslides triggered by the monsoon rainfall that occurred in the Wayanad district (Kerala state, southern India) on 30 July. The affected villages in the district are Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha villages, with the most significant impact observed in Mundakai and Chooralmala. According to SPHERE India, as of 30 July, 270 people died, 378 are still missing, 214 have been injured and more than 8,500 people have been evacuated in 85 relief camps. (ECHO, 1 Aug 2024)

On 31 July-1 August, heavy rainfall and strong winds affected three districts (Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu) of Himachal Pradesh state (northern India) causing severe weather-related incidents and triggering flash-floods that resulted in casualties and damage. According to local authorities and SPERE India, at least four people died (three in Mandi and one in Kullu district) while 48 are still missing, most of them in Shimla district. Moreover, 20 houses have been affected. (ECHO, 2 Aug 2024)

Himachal Pradesh has been severely impacted by continuous and heavy rainfall, resulting in multiple cloudbursts and landslides across various districts, including Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi. [...] A total of 14 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to the severe weather conditions. Additionally, around 45 persons remain unaccounted for, and search operations are ongoing [...]. A total of 55 people have been successfully evacuated from the affected areas to safer locations. The widespread devastation has resulted in the destruction or severe damage of 95 residential houses, 14 bridges, 10 shops, 4 schools, 19 cattle sheds, and 16 vehicles. (Sphere India, 8 Aug 2024)

Heavy monsoon rains and thunderstorms continue to affect several states of India, triggering landslides and causing floods, flash floods and a number of severe weather-related incidents (mainly due to lightning) that have resulted in an increased number of casualties and severe damage. The National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, as of 21 August, 15 fatalities across seven states: five fatalities in Madhya Pradesh, three in Uttarakhand, two in Maharashtra, two in Assam, one in Karnataka, one in Himachal Pradesh and one in Tamil Nadu over the period from 16 to 18 August. In addition, NDMI reports around 8,600 evacuated people, 259 damaged houses and more than 101,300 affected people across the affected area during the same period. (ECHO, 21 Aug 2024)

A massive landslide event occurred in Sikkim state (north-eastern India) on 20 August, causing population displacement and severe damage. Media report, as of 22 August, six evacuated families in one relief camp, 18 damaged houses and disrupted roads in the area of the Dipu Dara village (Singtam municipality, Gangtok district, southern Sikkim state) due to a landslide that occurred on 20 August. In addition, media also report damage to a hydroelectric power plant on the Teesta river. There are over 34,000 displaced in 346 camps in Tripura, 10 fatalities, with disruptions to roads and communications affecting daily life and emergency response. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) downgraded the rainfall alert from red to orange on 22 August. Rivers Khowai, Howrah, Manu, and Gomati are above danger levels. Over the next 72 hours, heavy rainfall is forecast over the whole of Sikkim state. (ECHO, 22 Aug 2024)

After multiple landslide events occured across Himachal Pradesh state (far northern India) in late July, caused by very heavy rainfall, the number of casualties has increased. Caritas India reports, as of 23 August, a total of 46 fatalities, 36 across the Shimla and Kullu districts (southern Himachal Pradesh) and ten in the Mandi district (central Himachal Pradesh). In addition, the same source reports 25 destroyed houses across the Shimla and Kullu districts and three destroyed houses and 15 damaged houses in the Mandi district. Displaced people were still reported throughout all the affected districts. (ECHO, 23 Aug 2024)

**Tripura'**s recent floods have been recorded as the most severe since 1983, impacting over 1.7 million individuals. The natural disaster has triggered more than 2,000 landslides, which have obstructed roadways and left certain regions inaccessible. The Gomati River is still flowing above the danger level, further exacerbating the situation. According to reports from DG ECHO's partners, the floods have had a widespread effect across eight districts, displacing nearly 149,000 people from almost 39,000 households into relief camps. (ECHO, 28 Aug 2024)

Heavy rainfall and widespread floods due to the Southwest Monsoon continue to affect north-western India, in particular the Gujarat state (bordering with south-eastern Pakistan) since 25 August, causing more casualties and damage. The National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, as of 29 August, 28 fatalities, four persons still missing, 23 injured people and a total of more than 8 million affected people in the Gujarat state, mainly across northern districts of the state. In addition, NDMI also reports more than 900 blocked roads throughout the affected area. (ECHO, 30 Aug 2024) As of 30 August, the National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, seven fatalities, across Gujarat, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir states. (ECHO, 2 Sep 2024)

Due to the Southwest Monsoon, heavy rainfall, widespread floods and landslides continue to affect western and south-eastern India, in particular Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states since late August, causing more casualties and damage. In Gujarat, the National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, as of 2 September, 61 fatalities, 42 injured people, 38,377 evacuated people and a total of more than 8 million affected people. In Andhra Pradesh, NDMI reports 19 fatalities, two persons still missing, 46,751 evacuated people and more than 448,000 affected people. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has appealed for additional financial support from the central government and has requested the crisis be officially recognized as a 'National Calamity'. In Telangana, NDMI reports 3,218 evacuated people. (ECHO, 3 Sep 2024)

Due to the Southwest Monsoon, heavy rainfall, widespread floods and landslides continue to affect south-eastern India, in particular Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring Telangana states since 31 August, causing more casualties and damage. In Andhra Pradesh, the National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports, as of 9 September, 45 fatalities, one person still missing, more than 48,500 evacuated people and a total of over 644,100 affected people across 411 villages in the state. In Telangana, NDMI reports 29 fatalities, two persons still missing, seven injured people, approximately 26,700 evacuated people and around 175,500 affected people in 148 villages across the state. (ECHO, 9 Sep 2024)

Heavy rainfall due to the Southwest Monsoon and widespread floods have continued to affect India in the last months, causing casualties and damage. The National Emergency Response Centre (NDMI) reports that, as of 23 September, there have been five fatalities, 10,184 displaced people, approximately 6,29 million affected people and 53 damaged houses. Floods have been severely affecting Bihar state in northern India, where eight casualties, 36,799 displaced people, and 1.2 million affected people across 12 districts have been reported. (ECHO, 24 Sep 2024)

From 25 September through 27 September, the National Disaster Management Information System of India (NDMIndia) reported at least 72 fatalities, most of them in Bihar (45) due to floods-related incidents across 14 districts. Moreover, more than 9,500 people have been affected and at least 450 houses have been damaged. (ECHO, 27 Sep 2024)

Some states of India continue to experience monsoon rainfall that resulted in floods and severe weather-related incidents. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs Disaster Management Division (National Emergency Response Centre) of India, on 29-30 September, six people died - four in Gujarat, one in Kerala and another in Madhya Pradesh - almost 178,000 people have been displaced and more than 639,000 people affected across Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Sikkim states. (ECHO, 1 Oct 2024)

On 5-6 October, torrential rain hit several districts in northern Karnataka state, including Ballari and Bengaluru, causing floods and resulting in casualties and damage. According to national authorities and media, four people died due to severe weather-related incidents, two people have been injured, and almost 100 houses were damaged. (ECHO, 9 Oct 2024)

Very heavy rainfall has been affecting India since 14 October, particularly Tamil Nadu State in the south-eastern part of the country, causing floods and severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs Disaster Management Division (National Emergency Response Centre) of India, at least 20 people died between 14 and 16 October, including seven in Tamil Nadu and seven in Gujarat states, 1,681 have been displaced and 7,090 people have been affected. According to media reports, Chennai and Bengaluru cities are the most affected, where school classes have been suspended and several power outages have been recorded. (ECHO, 18 Oct 2024)

Intense rainfall has been affecting southern India since 19 October, causing floods and severe weather-related incidents that have resulted in casualties and damage. According to media, as of 23 October, seven people died, including two children in Kengeri Lake, in Bengaluru city, the capital of the Karnataka state, south-western India, six have been injured, 16 have been rescued, and several people have been displaced in Yelahanka area, in northern part of Bengaluru city. In addition, more than 1,000 houses have been affected by floods and schools have been closed. (ECHO, 23 Oct 2024)