Updates on the Flooding in Seti River: Situation Report-03

I. Background:

A landslide near Machhapuchhre Mountain in Kaski district triggered a catastrophic flash flood in Seti River, sweeping settlements and breaching the river banks downstream on 05 May 2012 at around 0930 hrs.

Kharapani settlement (also known as Tatopani) in Sardikhola Village Development Committee (VDC) and Sadal village in Machhapuchhre VDC are worst hit by the powerful outburst. As of 1800 hrs today, total 26 bodies have been recovered and there is no additional missing information except for those 44 persons.

Most of the deceased are pilgrims, people picnicking, locals, tourists and laborers working on sand/stone quarry in the river bank. The bad hit area of Kharapani is some 40 km north from Pokhara valley and Sadal village is further two and half hours walking distance from there.

II. Situation Overview:

Total of 20 houses, two temples, one community building have been completely swept away by the flooding.

Half of a kilometer of the road section, two suspension bridges, water supply system to the Pokhara valley (which supplies around 60 percent of water supply in the valley) and electric poles have been damaged. It was observed today that another water supply system which supplies around 20 percent of water for the valley is also partially damaged by the flooding. If this system collapses, there will be shortage of water supply by 80 percent in the Pokhara city. The flood affected families in the major two sites in Kaski district are comparatively less than non local residents especially visitors, pilgrims, students having picnic, labors etc. District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC) and Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) have already provided the immediate cash and NFI support to the flood affected families and the families of the deceased.

DDRC is taking the lead of all rescue/relief and recovery of dead body initiatives in the district which is amazing here. The security forces (Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force) are doing their job very well in coordinated manner. All other humanitarian partners are also well coordinated for which OCHA and UN Field Coordination Office along with other UN agencies are providing their coordination support to the DDRC. A team led by DDRC went to the affected area this morning to have a rapid assessment as well as damage assessment. Representatives of government Agencies (District Administration Office, District Development Committee, District Education Office, Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, District Livestock Office, District Technical Office), Nepal Red Cross Society, UN Agencies (OCHA, UN Field Coordination Office, UNICEF, WFP, WHO) and OXFAM participated in the assessment. The DDRC is going to meet tomorrow afternoon and all the outcome of today’s assessment will be shared during the DDRC meeting tomorrow.