A comprehensive status report on the flood situation in different parts of the country is given below:
INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT
During past 24 hours:
The low pressure area over northwest Madhya Pradesh and southeast Rajasthan has weakened into an upper air cyclonic circulation over north Gujarat and adjoining south Rajasthan. This system has caused enhanced rainfall over North Gujarat region with reports of rainfall received at 0830 hrs today exceeding 20 cms at some places.
A depression lies over northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Orissa and adjoining Orissa and Gangetic west Bengal with its centre close to Balasore. This has enhanced the rainfall activity over Orissa. Chandbali and Paradip reported 25 cms and 8 cms of rainfall respectively during the past 24 hours.
Moderate rainfall also occurred at many places over Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra with Mahabaleswar reporting 17 cms of rainfall.
Forecast valid for next 24 hours
Enhanced rainfall activity likely over Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal and south Jharkhand with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places.
Rainfall intensity over Gujarat region is likely to decrease and may enhance over Saurashta and Kutch.
Rainfall activity may also increase over Kerela and coastal Karnataka.
CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) report dated 28 July 2005, there are No Unprecedented or High flood sites. There are 01 Moderate and 24 Low flood situation sites.
The details of moderate flood sites are as under:
1. River Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh (Assam) is flowing at 104.99 m against the danger level of 104.24 m with a steady trend.
MAHARASHTRA
Isolated mild to moderate rains have been reported in several parts of the State during the last 24 hours.
River Godavari at Koporgaon and Wardha at Ballarsha have crossed their warning levels but are still flowing below their danger levels.
The coastal Maharashtra which was lashed by unprecedented rains on 26/7/05 and 27/7/05 is returning to normal. The worst affected areas are 1) Mumbai suburban 2) Raigad 3) Ratnigiri 4) Nanded 5) Parbhani and 6) Thane. In addition, 11 other districts were also affected by excessive rains during this period.
Approximately 250 villages in these districts and 1 crore population has been affected by the recent rains/floods.
Approximately 1 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places. Many of them have returned to their homes. However, nearly 60,000 people are still staying in relief camps.
In all, about 60 relief camps in rural areas in Nanded, Parbhani and Raigad districts and 50 relief camps in Mumbai suburban have been established.
Water has receded from almost all flood affected areas. However, certain areas where excessive mud and slush has been left behind by the receding flood waters, people are not able to return to these places because of obvious difficulties. The problem of mud is more acute in Bhiwandi in Thane.
About 10,000 houses have reportedly been damaged.
All road traffic has resumed functioning. However the traffic movement on the city roads is slow because of bad condition of roads. Mumbai-Pune Express Way has reopened. Mumbai-Goa National Highway is still not functional as a number of bridges have been damaged and need to be repaired. This may take about 6-7 days.
Rail communication in the state is coming back to normal. Western railway is operating at 90% capacity level.
However Central Railway has not resumed its full operation. Local trains in Mumbai are operating on only 2 tracks out of the 04 available at 20-30 percent of its service level. The remaining two tracks are likely to be repaired within next 2-3 days. Outgoing services ex-Mumbai have not resumed operation as railway tracks beyond Dombivali require to be repaired.
Air services have resumed operation since yesterday afternoon but at a lower frequency level of about 60 percent.
Telephone services are operational except in rural areas and Mumbai suburban. Out of 4941 telephone exchanges in Maharasthra, 189 were affected by floods, 45 of them have been restored and 144 still remain affected. In mobile telephone service, out of a total 975 GSM BTS, 107 were affected. 14 of them have been restored and 93 still remain affected.
Water supply system has become normal except in certain areas. Shahad town in Thane district is having serious problems of water supply. Drinking water is being supplied here through water tankers. Restoration of water supply system may take 1 or 2 days.
Power supply is nearly normal except in some areas.
The schools and other educational institutions have reopened and started functioning, although with low attendance.
Total 679 deaths have been reported in the State (Mumbai suburban-370, Thane -158, Ratnagiri -- 15, Raigad -- 110, Nanded-06, Parbhani -- 03, Satara -- 04, Beed -- 04, Pune -- 05, Aurangabad, Jalna, Hingoli and Wardha 01 each).
03 major landslides have been reported in the State.
Jui village(Raigad district) -- several houses have come under a massive landslide here. About 100-150 persons are feared buried under the debris. The rescue work is being carried out since 27/7/05 by about 100 Army personnel and 3-4 SAR (Search and Rescue) teams of the State. Only 02 dead bodies have been recovered so far. The removal of debris is likely to take another 7 days.
Kondivita (Raigad) -- About 4-5 houses have come under a heavy landslide where about 20 persons are feared trapped. Local administration is doing the debris removal work which may take another 1 or 2 days. 13 dead bodies have been recovered so far.
Sakinaka (Andheri East) -- 35 houses are buried under the landslide here. 70 dead bodies have been recovered so far. Army and fire brigade personnel are engaged in rescue work for the last 3 days. The debris removal work is likely to take another 2 days.
About 1200 buffaloes and 15,000 sheep and goats are estimated to have died in these floods. The disposal of carcasses is a major problem for the State to undertake. The municipal authorities are reportedly planning to complete the disposal of carcasses within a day or two.
Almost the entire Kharif crops over an area of more than 30 lakh ha. in the Konkan region has been destroyed by flooding. The cultivable land in this area has largely been rendered waste due to the top soil having been washed away.
The civic infrastructure in the region has been damaged badly. Roads, public buildings like Primary Health Centres, Schools and Administrative buildings and water supply schemes will require extensive repairs for their restoration.
About 200 medical teams consisting of 1 medical officer and 3 para-medical staffs in each team have been sent to flood affected areas for providing a medical assistance and taking prevention/control measures of any post-flood epidemic situation. 50 medical teams are operating in Mumbai suburban and 150 teams in rural areas.
The State has distributed 60,000 food packets. Other NGOs like ISKCON and Red Cross etc. have distributed 5 lakh food packets. Community kitchen service is also being provided at relief camps by the State as well as NGOs.
IAF helicopters have air dropped food packets etc. to the affected areas.
The State has paid about Rs. 1.50 crore as ex gratia to 15000 persons @ Rs.1000/- each over the last two days.
09 Army columns are deployed in the flood affected districts for rescue and relief operations.
Out of 09 teams of Indian Navy engaged in operation RAHAT - each team consisting of 1 inflatable boat with 4 -- 5 personnel - now only 2 teams remain in the State, one each in Thane and Kalyan. The other teams have returned to their units. These two teams are also likely to return to their units shortly.
06 coys of RAF and 08 teams (consisting of 45 men per team) of Disaster Management Battalions have been provided by the CRPF for rescue and relief operations in the State.
The State Govt.s initial estimation of damage was Rs.500 crores. However, the estimates have now been revised by the State and placed at Rs.2,000 crores with sectorwise details as under:
Agriculture Rs.600 crores
Livestock Rs.100 crores
Housing Rs.300 crores
Infrastructure Rs.1,000 crores
Total Rs.2,000 crores
The State has suggested in its report to the Government of India that for reducing vulnerability in Mumbai city, the following measures will be required:
1. Mumbai needs to replace its drainage system which is more than 100 years old.
2. People living in huts in low lying areas are highly vulnerable in cases of excessive rains, floods and during cyclone warnings. It is necessary that these people are provided options for living in safer places by promoting social housing.
The Govt. of Maharashtra will submit a memorandum on the losses caused by the floods based on damage assessment and special needs of the city of Mumbai.
A visit by a Central team of flood affected areas in the State for assessment of Central assistance is likely to take place shortly after the receipt of the memorandum from the State. In the meanwhile, the State Govt. has made a request for an interim assistance of Rs.500 crores for immediate requirements of relief and restoration and 10,000 metric tonnes of foodgrains for the flood affected families.
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