NATURE OF DISASTER: FLOODS
The state of Orissa is reeling under severe flood since the 27th of August 2003. Continuous rains in the upper and lower catchment areas of the Mahanadi river system adjoining the state of Chhattisgarh have worsened the current situation. 19 out of 30 districts have been affected so far, namely Angul, Bargarh, Boudh, Bolangir, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kendrapada, Khordha, Nayagarh, Puri, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, Koraput, and Nuapada.
Continuous and heavy rains have led to a spate in the rivers and breaches along the river embankments, causing severe impact on the habitation, livelihood and health. Evacuation operations in the affected districts are continuing. Medical teams have been deployed in the worst hit areas and key locations. The National, State, military, and paramilitary forces have been mobilized to assist in the severely affected districts. Road and communication infrastructure have also been badly hit in some parts of the state. Sundergarh has experienced flash flood, and as a result, Gurundia and Bonai blocks have been affected. No damage has been reported so far.
The flood situation showed an improvement on 5th September with water level showing a receding trend in the Mahanadi river system as it did not rain heavily in the lower and upper catchments. The water level of Hirakud reservoir as on 6th September, 2003 at 1700 hrs was 626.83 feet. Only 2 gates have been opened. The inflow to the reservoir has gone down to 285000 cusec as against 610000 cusec on 4th September, 03. The outflow from the reservoir was much lower at 54000 cusec. The flow of flood water at the Naraj head has come down to 8.8 lakh cusec is expected to decrease further. However, the number of affected districts continues to rise.
|
1
|
Total no. of Districts affected |
19
|
|
2
|
Total no. of Blocks affected |
96
|
|
3
|
Total no. of GPs affected |
1,129
|
|
4
|
Total no. of villages affected |
5,197
|
|
5
|
Villages Marooned |
1,400
|
|
6
|
Population affected |
2,965,286
|
|
7
|
Casualties: Human lives lost |
31
|
|
8
|
Casualties: Livestock lost |
1,886
|
|
9
|
No. of houses affected |
102,378
|
| 10 | Crop Area affected |
4.105 lakh Hectares
|
| 11 | No of boats deployed |
993
|
|
12
|
No of people evacuated |
102,401
|
Yesterday's low pressure area over northwest & adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal now lies over coastal Orissa & neighborhood with associated upper air cyclonic circulation extending up to mid-tropospheric level. Rain/thundershowers expected at many places in Orissa, East Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh and at a few places in the region. There is a warning of isolated, but heavy rainfall at different places in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
PROJECTED THREATS IN GENERAL
Breaches at several places have led to sand casting on agricultural fields thereby aggravating the plight of the farmers.
As the embankments are made from alluvial soil there is threat of high seepage and piping rate leading to their gradual weakening.
Due to contamination of drinking water sources, diarrhea cases are likely to increase. So far 616 diarrhea cases as on 1st September, 03 have been reported in the flood affected districts.
Lack of safe drinking water would lead to water born diseases in Kendrapada.
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