ReliefWeb

Owing to unprecedented heavy rains due to monsoon's upper air cyclonic circulation over Saurashtra & Kutch since last four days has resulted into flood situation and inundation of lowlying areas in the state of Gujarat. The situation in the state is reported to be critical in the districts of Vadodara, Kheda and Anand. The state has received a cumulative average of 619 mm of rainfall and 51 mm of rainfall during the last 24hrs in Valsad, Surat, Navsari and Dangs as monsoon advances into north Gujarat. The affected Districts are: Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Bharuch, Vadodara, Surendranagar, Dangs, Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Narmada, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar and Sabarkantha. The total number of taluka affected is 117 with 8000 villages. However during last 24 hrs severely affected districts are Vadodara, Anand and Kheda and 2000 villages. The cities experiencing severe inundation conditions are Vadodara, Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Navsari, Surat and Limbdi, Dakor, Anand, Kheda, Petlad, Borsad. The rivers reported to be flowing above danger levels are Vishwamitri ( Vadodara District,) Shedhi and Vatrak ( Kheda district). In Bharuch district Vagra, Amod, Jambusar Talukas have been heavily affected. Due to topography and poor drainage of rain water, the rain water has changed its course and flooded the villages affecting the roads, power supply other lifeline infrastructures. The small rivulets such as Bhuki Khadi in Amod and Jambusar flowing from Vododara have overflown inundating roads and villages.

DAMAGE/ AFFECT on INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

The power supply has been affected in 5949 villages, 56 Towns, while 2227 electricity feeder and 1050 electricity distribution transformers has been disrupted. 394 regional water supply schemes have been affected, while water supply in 5752 villages and 32 towns has been affected. A total of 132 persons have been reported dead either due to drowning, collapse of building walls. The railway tracks at many low lying stretches have been submerged. Transportation in the affected districts is reported to have slowed down due to closure of 259 state managed road routes, but 95 state road routes are remained opened for movement. 1239 panchayat managed roads have been closed for movements keeping 302 panchayat roads opened for accessibility. The traffic movement commenced late evening on the State Express Highway and NH8 has been opened for traffic movement. One bridge in Amerli (1- Raidi) was washed away.

River/Dams on Alter

The irrigation department has issued high alter for 41 dams in the affected districts and 10 dams on are on alert while 13 dams are on warning level. Thole Lake in Kadi is at 13.50 Ft ( danger level of 14.00 ft) while Pratappura Dam ( Vadodara) water has been released to avert danger. Shedi and Vatrak river in Kheda is flowing at danger level. Water level in Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia ( Narmada) is 111.66 mtrs as reported on 3rd July against 110.64 mtrs

RELIEF /RESCUE OPERATION & RESTORATION:

Evacuation

The state administration has evacuated 500, 000 affected persons to Safe locations include primary and secondary schools, community halls, 'Dharmasalas' and temples in Village Panchayat are being used as temporary shelters. Till date 296975 persons have been evacuated from Surendranagar(1900) Bharuch(42717), Kheda(28941), Navsari(33096), Surat(33727), Ahmedabad(5267) and Valsad(3800), Vadodara (99022), Anand ( 32694) Amreli (11525), Bhavnagar (1216) ,Gandhinagar ( 1250), Jamnagar (200) Junagadh (940), Mahesana (230), Panchmahal( 51) Sabarkantha (375),Narmada (24) districts. During the past 24 hrs in the worst affected districts of Kheda 2000 persons and in Vadodara 25742 persons have been evacuated to safer places. .

Relief:

At the relief/temporary camps necessary requirements of 269678 food packets, 236000 water pouches and 300 family kits, 14100 packets of milk powder have been distributed in the affected areas. The drinking water arrangements are being coordinated by GWSSB through portable tankers. 27470 and 35000 pouches of water provided to Nadiad and Anand. In Anand 23975 food packets (1558 Namkin, 1500 groundnut, 1016 bread and 875 biscuits packets) have been distributed. The administration from Ahmedabad and Vadodara airport has air dropped 5 tonnes of food materials for persons in the affected areas. A team of 639 members of which 34 medical officers and 200 Para medics have been deployed in the relief camps. Adequate supply of needed medicines, chlorine tablets distributed (867199) and for 4338 tanks and wells chlorination done & 3825 ORS packets distributed. Disinfectants 10 Metric tones of bleaching powder distributed in Vadodara and 3.5 Metric tonnes in Anand and Nadiad.

Rescue Operations:

The state has deployed 9 army Colums of 610 personnel in Kheda, Vadodara, Anand, and company of CRPF in Matar (2) Nadiad (4) with 34 boats (OBM and Non-OBM) have been deployed for rescue operations while 11 Indian Air Force Helicopters have been conducting rescue operations and air dropping of relief materials . 600 trained SRP personnel and State Police force have been deployed. The trained fire bridge rescue teams from all city municipal cooperation's and Nagarpalikas (city local bodies) are carrying out emergency operations in the affected cities. 13 people have been rescued from Kheda(4 persons) and 200 students from Haryala Gurukul have been shifted to safe place. 400 stranded passengers of Shanti Express at Dakor have been rescued. 12 marooned persons have been rescued. Till 3rd July 83 persons have been rescued.

Restoration:

Power supply has been restored in 5068 villages and 52 towns with 2022 feeders restored and 673 electricity distribution transformers restored. Water supply has been restored in 3621 villages, and 25 Towns Water is supplied through tankers n Kheda, Anand and Vadodara. The bridge in Amerli (1- Raidi) is being resorted.

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES

The Chief Minister of Gujarat is reviewing the situation daily and a Crisis Management Group has been constituted to coordinate the emergency activities in the state

The state government in addition has prepared 400,000 ready to eat food packets and 40, 000 family kits for affected population. The relief items are being distributed through air drops and roads where accessibility is possible.

In Baroda the collector has initiated a NGO coordination cell to facilitate the coordination of relief activities carried out by various agencies.

A detailed damage assessment would be carried out by the district administration.

An emergency meeting of all the line departments was convened by Collector & DM of Bharuch District to take stock of the situation and to initiate damage assessment work

Home Guards and fire personnel trained in Sinor Taluka of Bharuch District are delivering services in rescuing people marooned by flood water. The emergency rescue kits such as life jackets, rings and ropes those provided by GSDMA at the district and Taluka level are in full use. Local DMT and community members are playing a constructive role through establishing communication with Taluka and District Control rooms, arranging emergency supplies particularly ready to eat food and are helping the rescue mission in Amod and Jambusar Talukas

Disaster Management Team (DMT) members at villages & block level and Village Disaster management Committees(VDMC), City Disaster Management Committee(CDMC) and District Disaster Management committee(DDMC) are also associated with rescue & relief operation. The emergency rescue kits supplied under DRM programme as well as World Bank component are being used to carry out rescue operations. Community equipments and other related equipments provided for strengthening the EOCs are also being used. The trained personnel for flood rescue are assisting deployed rescue teams in all the affected districts.

All Project Officers-UNVs and other staff members of GOI- UNDP DRM Programme are assisting the state district & block level administration for emergency information operations and technical related activities in the Emergency Operating Centres.

CHANNEL FOR DELIVERY AND CONTACT DETAILS

For Further Information

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