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India: Assam and Arunachal Pradesh floods situation report, 14 Jul 2005


NATURE OF HAZARD : FLOODS

Floods have been triggered due to continuous heavy rains in several parts of north-eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh causing rivers to rise above high flood danger levels. Also due to landslides and erosion of embankments has lead to congestion and siltation of river channels. All settlements situated in low-lying flood prone areas and encircled/along river channels have been flooded.

In Assam river Brahmaputra is reported to be rising above danger levels at Didrugarh, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Sivasagar, and tributaries Dikhow (at Sivasagar) , Jai Bharati (at Sonitpur) & Puthimari ( at Kamrup) while tributaries Subansairi and Dhansiri at Golaghat & Lakhimpur and river Brahmaputra at Goalpara & Dhubri is flowing at warning levels .

In Arunachal Pradesh river Lohit ( encircling Tezu Dist HQ ) a tributary of Brahmaputra at Dhola Ghat and seasonal tributaries Durra –nallah, tezu nallah, Sukha nallah (Tezu Dist HQ) connecting river Roing (at Lowe Dibang Valley) and Tinsukia (in Assam) has been rising , while river Nao- Dehing (at Mahadepur Circle) and Berrang, Kamalng, Tengapani river and Sibiri nallah (encircling Chongkham Circle) are over flowing affecting Tezu , Mahadevpur , Chongkham and Wakro circles of Lohit, Anjaw and Lower Dibang Valley Districts .

Rest of India

- Madhya Pradesh flooding of 9 nine districts due to overflowing of river Banganga and submerging a Canal at Bahmani PS Kurai (seoni) causing road blockade and submerging of low lying areas.

- Maharashtra heavy rains has caused overflowing of Dawanda and Nandhaon rivers in Yavatmal district

- Jammu& Kashmir continuous rains has lead to over flowing of rivers Tawi, Chenab, Jhelum , Sindh and seasonal tributaries above danger level causing flash floods in Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

DAMAGE DETAILS

Arunachal Pradesh 3 affected Districts Lohit( Tezu, Mahadevpur & Chongkham Wakro circles ) and 7 villages with 200,000 population and Anjaw District ( Hawai, Walong, Kibithoo, Manchu, Hayuliang, Goiliang, Choglangam circles and Lower Dibang Valley have received 685 mm in the past 4 day. Affecting power supply due to damage of power lines , submergence of water supply sources and transportation networks (suspension bridges, culverts, bridges and retaining walls, roads, embankments and spurs) have been washed way, damaged and blocked to due landslide and rock boulders. In Anjaw districts foot suspension bridges have been washed away. Significant damage has been reported to agriculture and horticulture fields such as orange gardens, and paddy fields. In Lower Dibang Valley District road commutation is disrupted between Roing ( District HQ) and Hunli due landslide, blocking road links to Nanda Pass. The Kabang village bridge over Kundli river was washed away also damaging the wing wall of the RCC bridge at Adali-Denlo over Aba River. Reported death of 6 persons due to diarrhoea and dysentery in Desali village of Lower Dibang valley

Assam 5 districts: Karimganj, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Dehmaji & Jorhat (Majuli) and 153 villages with 500,000 population have been affected. 64 houses have been damaged . 132 houses have been damaged due to erosion by river Kundil in Sadiya Sub -division of Tinsukia District and 33 in Majuli( Jorhat Districts). NH 52 has been submerged at several stretches by overflowing waters from River Jiadhol cutting off Dhemaji in Upper Assam. Vast tracts of land in Jonai subdivision in Dhemaji is inundated by rising waters of Lali and Siang rivers. The railway line from Dhemaji to Murkok Seleng has been submerged at several stretches. In Majuli, Asia's largest river island, three embankments are breached and the road link between Upper and Lower Majuli is disrupted. 3 breaches has been caused at Katabari , Nurulcherra under Patherkandi Circle, Berartuk under R K Nagar circle and 2 breaches on marginal embankments under Patherkandi Circle of Karimnagar District is reported. 207 Ha of crop land is being affected.

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES

Arunachal Pradesh:

- The districts administration in each affected circle have started to function the joint flood control room along with Army and Border Roads Organization supervised by Deputy Commissioners.

- Search ad Rescue team in Tezu HQ evacuated the people from villages ( Kibithoo, Hawai, Walong , Hayuliang) under Tezu circle,& Namsai sub-division and villages ( Mazgoan, Miraba, & Morapat) under Chongkham circle have been evacuated. 200 people have bene housed in Momang relief camp. 140 people have been evacuated from Mabira and Mazgoan village. People from Morapat village have been evacuated to Lathoa. 150 people were evacuated in Wakro circle. Country and machine boats were used for rescue operation in Namasi and Mahadevpur. In areas where road connectivity is blocked and nallahs (tributary channels) are not traversable elephants are being used to carry out rescue and relief operations.

- Three relief camps have been opened in Tezu, Chongkham and Wakro circles

- Essential supply of food, relief materials medicines were supplied to relief camps.

- Under the supervision of District Medical officer of district health unit medical staff are being sent to villages to treat cases of diarrhoea and dysentery - Drinking water is being provided through portable tankers at relief camps.

- Necessary liaison with Army , BRTF & concerned lines departments has been established

- The District Collectors of the affected states are in contact with the state chief secretary and Relief Commissioner. In Assam , Karimnagar district administration has distributed gratuitous relief item of rice and salt to the affected. Irrigation departments have been alerted to monitor the river flow at all gauging stations.

In Jammu Division of Jammu & Kashmir the district administration has informed all people inhabiting along the banks to move to safer places and the administration is on alert as the water level of rivers fall below danger level.

State Control Room Arunachal Pradesh
Department of Relief, Rehabilitation ad Disaster
Management Arunachal Pradesh
Tel: 0360-2211216/2292141
Fax: 0360-2292141

State Control Room: Assam
State Emergency Operation Centre (State
Control Room),
Labour Building, State Civil Secretariat, Dispur
Guwahati-781006
Tel: 0361-2268691/ 2268699 (O),
Fax: 0361-2264847/ 2261901

- National Disaster Management Division Ministry of Home Affairs
- Disaster Management Department, Assam,Arunachal Pradesh
- Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
- Central Water Commission (CWC)
- UNDP

For Further Information: G Padmanabhan, Emergency Analyst, UNDP, E-mail: g.padmanabhan@undp.org, Mobile: 91 – 98104 – 02937, www.undp.org.in/dmweb