India: Floods - Information Bulletin n° 6

GLIDE FL-2008-000145-IND

Even as increasing amounts of vital humanitarian assistance arrives in northern India, the swollen Kosi river continues to wreak additional havoc for millions of vulnerable people. According to latest official reports, more than 3.4 million individuals have been directly impacted by unprecedented flooding in a region of India not prone to this kind of disaster. A total of 69 lives have been lost and aid efforts remain hampered by limited access to approximately 1,955 impacted villages across 16 districts in the state of Bihar.

Isolated between the original course of the Kosi river and a new channel that formed when its banks were breached in Nepal, these devastated residents struggle to survive as humanitarian organizations - including the Red Cross Red Crescent - provide assistance in the face of massive logistical challenges. In Bihar alone, about 300,000 homes have been destroyed.

In Bihar, even after the floods recede, large areas of the affected areas might be rendered permanently infertile because of the deposit of gravel and stones that the Kosi waters are likely to leave behind. A local media source has reported that there is a lurking threat of an epidemic in the areas where the flood water has receded. Cases of fever, pneumonia and diarrhoea have been reported in the relief camps, many of which are cramped and crowded with intense heat. In addition, tracing and psychological support are also becoming priority issues for an immediate intervention.

In the state of Assam too, the overall flood situation remained grim even as the water levels of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries started to recede. The Brahmaputra is still flowing much beyond the danger level from Dibrugarh to Dhuburi districts. Over 1.2 million people in 18 districts of the state have been reeling under the impact of the worst-ever flood of the season. According to official sources, around 20,500 people are taking shelter in 134 relief camps. A total of 33,700 marooned people have been evacuated to safer places. The district authorities have taken up relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood affected areas. Food items, fodder, clothes, housing material and medicines for purification of drinking water are being distributed to the flood affected people.

The International Federation is coordinating within and outside the Movement to support the Indian Red Cross Society in responding to the need efficiently.

The Situation

The situation remains very grim with serious risk of more flooding in some affected districts. According to the Central Water Commission, in Assam state the Brahmaputra river is rising at Guwahati and Dhubri and the Beki river is at the danger level. In Bihar state, the Ganga river is at danger level in Hathidah and Colgong. Further, the Ganga in West Bengal and Jharkhand states is flowing above the danger mark as well. According to latest weather predictions by the Indian Meteorological Department, fairly widespread rainfall, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over the north-eastern states (Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and sub-Himalayan West Bengal) during the next 48 hours. Warning has been issued of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep.

The flood situation in the country has been changing and the weather and rainfall patterns have been fluctuating throughout the monsoon season, particularly in Bihar and Assam. In Bihar, people in the worst hit Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa and Araria continue to reel under the impact of floods, though there is some improvement in the situation as the flood waters recede. Flood water is now spreading in low lying areas of Purnia, Khagaria and Katihar districts. The media and government sources have reported that the situation in Purnia and Bhagalpur districts has been aggravated due to isolated heavy showers in these districts. Some of the people are slowly returning to their homes, or to what is left of these. Three human deaths have been reported in last 24 hours taking the total death toll in Bihar to 69. With over 3.4 million people affected in 1,955 villages spread across 16 districts of the state.

In Assam, the flood situation seems to be worsening again with heavy to very heavy rainfall reported in the state, with extremely heavy rainfall in a few parts. Two human deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours and in total 17 lives have been lost so far in the state. Over 1.3 million people have been affected in 1,330 villages spread across 13 districts of the state. According to government owned media sources, road communication remained virtually cut off in most parts of the worst-hit Majuli river island and parts of North Lakhimpur, Morigaon and Kamrup districts. A world heritage site, the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinos, has also been affected by these current floods.

According to the latest reports from the Ministry of Home Affairs, this year 18.9 million people have been affected by the floods and 1,844 lives have been lost. Approximately 566,258 permanent houses have been destroyed and 449,395 houses partially damaged.