NATURE OF THE DISASTER: FLOOD IN ASSAM STATE, INDIA
(As on 10 August 02)
Overall flood situation in all the affected districts of Brahamaputra Valley is improving with the waters receding in most of the villages. However road and rail communication from Dhemaji to the rest of the country still remains cut off for 40 days in succession. Relief distribution is continuing to the affected people wherever necessary. Challenges ahead once the floods recede would be the outbreak of water-borne diseases and also rehabilitation of thousands of people whose homes were washed away in the floods. People sheltered on embankments are unlikely to return to their villages. The road communication remained severed in the worst affected districts (Dhemaji, Morigaon &
Dhubri) though water level is on the falling trend.
AREA AFFECTED:
Number of Districts Affected: 21(Dhemaji, Laxhimpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Golaghat,
Morigaon, Darrang, Kamrup, Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Nalbari, Tinsukia,
Number of Villages Affected:
Population affected:
Human Life Lost:
Cattle Lost:
Area Affected:
Houses damaged:
No. of Homeless people
Sonitpur, Karimganj, Korkrajhar and Bongaigaon, Cachar, and Hallakandi)
6226
5.36 million
482
39 (Govt. sources); other sources (41)
803292 hactares
5 million
19827
Total crop area affected: 323173 hactares
1.
ame of District
Block
(s)
N
Village s
Affecte d
Loss of
Lives
Total
Area
Affected
Crop area affected
[hacs]
Populati on affected
 4 1. 4 7 46276 24616 252020 Dhemaji: The floodwater had receded in Dhemaji district but since yesterday night after the rains there has been an increasing the water levels. Till date 12,870 people have been evacuated in the district by the district administration.
52

4 469 7 79006 63495 577139
Morigaon: Eighty per cent of
Morigaon district has been inundated and all crops destroyed and around six lakh people of the district's seven-lakh population have been displaced. More than
90 per cent of Morigaon's population has been affected. Erosion is continuing in
Bhuragaon and Lahorighat Circles

 Jorhat: In Majuli subdivion, water level of river Brahmaputra is receding and flood situation is gradually improving.
However road communalization still remains disrupted.
 Nalbari: Water level of the rivers in the district is receding. Erosion still continuing in a few blocks under
Ghograpar, Barkhetri, taTamulpur, Barbhag and Nalbari Circle.




Kamrup: In Rangia subdivision, water level of river Brahmaputra is receding and under control. Water level is 49.26 below danger level.
Water level of rivers of the districts is receding and food situation is gradually improving.
Darrang:
Naigaon:





Dhubri:
Barpetta:
Goalpara:
Lakhimpur: Flood situation is improving
Sonitpur
 Tinsukia




Golaghat
Sivsagar
Dibrugarh:
Karimganj:
 Kokrajhar:
 Cachar
Flood water rise in Barak, has inundated vast areas of Katigorah Revenue Circle.
 Hallakandi
Due to heavy rainfall in the hilly rise in
Mizoram there has been sudden rise in the water levels of Katakhal River.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
71
200 -
10626 7190 56500
448 8 366626 48658 585680
473
240
296
50
52
42
60
4
65
284
217
369
256
59
2838 - 242127
20860
32177
37900
-
68797
12407
584
-
12706
5000
540
1635
6000
2
-
-
-
1
-
4
1
6
2
- 184000
238599
564400
254013
397000
106375
148000
14000
22466
32440
40600
1950
40000
10074
13010
3714
-
36973
-
-
5199
1200
2960
1

2.
IMPACT: DAMAGE BY SECTOR i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Transport and logistic infrastructure: NATIONAL HIGHWAY 52 beyond Lakhimpur is affected by flood. Rail and Road traffic disrupted in some stretches of the State. In Bilasipara sub-division,
NATIONAL HIGHWAY 31 has been opened for traffic. Boarder Road Organization is assigned the responsibility to restore the road network connecting Dhemaji District with other districts.
Telecommunication network: In Goalpara district due to breach of embankments, Lakhipur
PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE [PHC] Telephone exchange submerged and had to be shutdown.
Water and Sanitation: Safe drinking water is very inaccessible. Water purifying tablets and deep tube well pump sets are being installed for safe drinking water. In Dhemaji there has been no improvement on the sanitation conditions of the district. Funds have been released by the DISTRICT RURAL
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY [DRDA] for construction of temporary latrines in the camps but the progress report is still awaited.
Health Facilities: Medicines have been sent to districts affected [Dhemaji DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER [DC] reported they have been distributed already and doctors are deployed in the field in the permanent camps. Most of the basic service [PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION CENTRE and immunization etc.] provisions are hampered due to lack of road communication.
Health problem: Increase of the cases of Malaria, Japanese B encephalitis, Diarrhoea, Jaundice.
Malnutrition is prevalent among the children especially those who are on the embankments. Few cases of
starvation are also reported. Floods in Assam have caused more than $600 million worth of damage and led to a range of sporadic outbreaks that have claimed 110 lives. Over the last one month, 100 persons, mostly minor children, loss their lives in the six districts of upper Assam due to Japanese B Encephalitis mostly farmers and tribals who lived in close proximity to stagnant water and pigs. Since June 30, 298 patients have been admitted, of which
171 are minor children and the death rate among them was over 40 per cent. The malaria department is looking after the problem. Women and Children are mostly susceptible to Japanese encephalitis, so far 100 deaths have
been reported by Assam Medical College. Assam sought urgent help from the Central health ministry to tackle a
Japanese encephalitis epidemic. To prevent further spread of Japanese Encephalitis, teams of the central government doctors and the Gauhati Medical College Hospital doctors had fanned out to the remote areas of the districts, including the tea garden areas. Dibrugarh district needs more staff to deal with the outbreak of Japanese
Encephalitis as they are not only running out of time but have to deal with the difficulties posed by the monsoon.
Deaths so far from encephalitis gripped upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur,
Dhemaji and Golghat. There is possibility of water-borne diseases in surrounding areas after water recedes. v.
Agriculture: More than 865,000 acres of farmland, mostly paddy cultivation, were damaged in vi.
the flood.
Livelihood Options: The present flood has damaged the standing crops including other livelihood options like cottage industries such as weaving, bamboo and Cane work, wood carving etc are affected. Food security is a major concern of the affected districts as these areas mainly depend upon Kharif vii.
crop, which is being damaged in recent floods. Due to rise in water level navigating is dangerous forcing the farmers, fisherman, and boatman to lose their source of income and living. The tea industry has been hit hard by a terrible flood in Assam that have washed away up to 100 gardens and livelihood of around one million workers employed directly and another 10 million who are indirectly dependent on the industry are also affected.
Public utilities: Communication Problems: The Stock of essential supplies was depleting
due to snapping of road and rail links. Surface communication has been completely disrupted affecting the public utilities and getting the relief materials.
2

Lakhimpur  Damage to Housing Sector: 519
 Road Communication: Water flowing about 12 Kilometers above the road
Morigaon  Rail Communication: Water level of the river Bramhaputra is flowing above. Road communication between Naigaon and Bhuragaon is being disrupted in several places.
Darrang
Goalpara
Nalbari:
 Road Communication: Udalgiri has been disrupted due to damage of Wooden Bridge over river Galandi on Rowta – Udalgiri Raod. A culvert on Udalguri – Tamulpur raod at village Batabari has been washed away and one wooden bridge 12/1 of NEC road at Phulagari has been partially damaged.
 Road Communication: Lakhipur-chunari road, Taltala-Golpara Road has been closed. All
PWD Roads and other roads except NEC road under Lakihpur Circle and western Buljana Circles have been submerged.
 Damage to Housing Sector: 75 Houses have been damaged
Kamrup
Dhemaji
 Road Communication remains disrupted in 89 nos. of PWD roads. Railway line between
Rangia and Goreswar still remains disrupted. Distribution of Gratuitous remains disrupted.
 Damage to Housing Sector: 453 - All the houses were mud & bamboo and thatched, in some cases the wall is mud and bamboo and roof is GI sheets. Until now more than 60,000 people are living on the embankment under temporary shelters and school buildings.
 Drinking water: People are using contaminated river and tube well water, as there is no supply of disinfectant. As most of the villages are in low-lying areas, the floodwater stagnation will be a major problem for more than four months i.e. till October.
 Sanitation: Human, cattle and pigs are staying in the camps and embankments, which are creating the sanitation problem and contamination of water sources. Submerged tube wells and dug wells are making the situation more acute.
 Communication network: All roadways to 446 villages were cut off and water surface is the only communication for supply of relief and other services. The district has no road and railway communication, which will take a long time for restoration. Road and Rail Communication: in the district remains cutoff for the last 39 days in succession
 Telecommunication: District HQ is connected with state and other areas with telephone line.
During the time of disaster police wireless were used for rescues evacuation. There is no telecommunication facilities are available in the affected areas, which hampered the flow of information regularly. The problem will continue for more then three months, which need more follow up action and monitoring. There is an essential need for an alternate telecommunication system for the affected areas. HAM radio may be useful for these areas.
PROJECTED EVOLUTION/SECONDARY THREATS:
 Outbreak of water-borne diseases.
 Non-availability of safe drinking water and water stagnation may lead to threat of Gastrointestinal and skin diseases.
 Increase in possible cases of Japanese Encephalitis has been reported from RVC in their project area.
 Sanitary conditions of the relief camps are very bad as people living on the embankments and using nearby areas for defecation may create further health problems.
 Non-availability of doctors and health workers at the hospitals / health centres in interior pockets is a major concern in the present situation.
 Rehabilitation of thousands of people whose homes were washed away in the floods.
3

NATIONAL RESPONSE:
State government will work out fund requirement for flood control programme in river basins, which are prone to floods and raise the additional resources required for taking up important flood management works from internal and external resources.
Army and Civil authorities have been geared for evacuation of people from the flood-affected areas. In addition to this Army doctors are treating many patients suffering from waterborne diseases.
Administrative Measures:
State Government is taking adequate measures to assist the districts affected.
Total No of Relief Camps: 352
No of families in Relief Camps: 88542
 Rice: 78594 Quintals
 Dal: 5477 Quintals
 Salt: 2201 Quintal
 Gur: 42.47 Quintals
 Chuda: 155.8 Quintals
Dhemaji District:
Relief Distribution is on. State Govt. has empowered the district authorities to procure rice dal and salt to the tune of
5 Cr. More medicine has arrived in the Health Department. Fodder and Vaccination of Cattle population is being undertaken. Tube and Open wells are being disinfected on priority basis.
OPERATIONS/MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES:
Dhemaji District:
 Gratuitous relief continuing to the affected population.
 Relief distribution is going on, three days ration (rice) is distributed to all affected population in all 29 permanent camps and 147 temporary camps.
 Population in Relief Camps: 80000
 No. of Health Center Opened: 29
 Rice – 5838 Quintals, requisitioning from FCI Depot.
 Public health depts. are providing halogen tablets and 50 tube well to the affected villages, whereas 24 tube wells will be installed in the camp site.
 14 lab technicians are at services at 21 health institutions in the district, which is inadequate for detection of malaria and other infectious diseases.
 To avoid contamination, temporary toilets are being provided by the District administration.
 20,000 Halogen Tablet from Lakhimpur District have arrived today and will be distributed through circle officers


Other Districts:
Animal fodder and medicines were distributed for the first time on 26 th of this month.
Food For Work is being planned for the affected community by the DRDA
Kamrup District: 32 Relief Centers have been opened in Kamrup district. 32 villages have been evacuated so far and 129 Relief parties are deployed.
Nalbari District: 10 Relief Camps have been set up at Tamulpur, Barama, and Pasnalbari Circle
4

Jorhat District: 11 Relief Camps have been set up accommodating 2764 affected people. Gratuitous relief continuing to the affected population.
Dhubri District: Polythene tarpaulins have been supplied for the rescued people and camp inmates. 100 boats have been deployed for rescue and relief operation. 35 relief camps have been opened. 3771 houses have been damaged by flood. Gratuitous relief continuing to the affected population.
Morigaon District: 88 relief centres have been set up, but providing for the flood affected. Although Rs 1.5 crore have already been spent on relief, more funds are necessary to deal with the situation
Sonitpur District: 72 relief camps have been opened.
Tinsukia District: 19 relief camps accommodating 3357 people have been operating.
Lakhimpur Dostrict: 4 relief camps accommodating 1570 people are operating in the districts. 36 boats have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. 10 tube wells have been provided in the affected areas.
GoalparaDistrict : 121 boats have been engaged for rescue and relief operation. Population of 198 villages were evacuated and shifted to relief centers – [196]
Naigaon District: 50 country boats have been deployed for rescue and relief operations. Distribution of
Gratuitous relief to the camp inmates continues.
Darrang District: 9 relief centers have been opened. Distribution of Gratuitous relief to the camp inmates continues.
Emergency workers have been using bamboo rafts to ferry villagers to safety as overflowing rivers continue to flood the districts.
COUNTRY-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE:
Government Requests: District Collector of Dhemaji, the worst affected district has requested Red Cross for:
 Tarpaulin, Polythene, Tents, water purification, ORS besides bottle of saline for medical relief in the camps
 Safe Drinking water support for – 25 million populations
 Mobile Medical Team – Doctors (10); Paramedical Staffs (30)
Other Response in the District:
 International agencies like MSF are visiting the Dhemaji district for assessment and chalking out a plan of action for their assistance. Teams of doctors from MSF have arrived in Dhemaji and will be using the
Disease Surveillance System format developed by the UNDP Team. They will be required to submit
regular reports to the team in the Control Room
 Local Universities have mobilised food, medicines and clothing for distribution to the affected people.
 One NGO namely: Rural Volunteers Centre is providing some relief materials and helping district administration in relief operations in 19 GPs of Dhemaji District especially in the operational area of Action
Aid and Oxfam. Both these agencies have not yet started any relief operations activities.
 Regional Country Representative of Concern, Orissa has arrived in the district for a first hand assessment of the Situation
 World Vision India has provided 15,00 family kits to Dhemaji District
 UNICEF has provided 1000 cooking kits to Dhemaji District
COORDINATION:
 The Chief Minister and the Governor are conducting an aerial survey of the affected area on the 1 st and the
2 nd August respectively.
 Local Universities have mobilised food, medicines and clothing for distribution to the affected people.
 One NGO namely: Rural Volunteers Centre is providing some relief materials and helping district administration in relief operations in 19 GPs of Dhemaji District especially in the operational area of Action
Aid and Oxfam. Both these agencies have not yet started any relief operations activities.
5

District Dhemaji:
Coordination: The coordination meeting of all stakeholders was chaired by DC, Dhemaji
Issues Discussed are:
 Insufficient stock of bleaching power with the health authorities.
 No funds with the E &D department for minor repairs of the embankments or breach closure
 Paddy seeds for next crops are not available with the district administration; they will procure it from the
Seed Corporation. But may not be able to support more than 7500 farm families.
 INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELPMENT SCHEME has no food for the children or the women beneficiaries.
 Health camps was held by the UNV and government doctors in two villages I
 Disease Surveillance system has started in the district
Discussion with RVC
 According to him at least 70-75 % of agricultural crop loss has been observed in the 19 GPs they are working due to flood water and subsequent water logging. He felt that even if the water recedes there is a need to supply pesticides for pest control as their population increases.
 As there are no other livelihood options the villagers are depending on driftwood, thatch grass cutting and fishing activities.
 Various water borne diseases are increasing in the area. The MSF is sending two teams of doctors for two months for rendering medical aid.
Discussion with SARBU GRAM SEWA SANGHA
 They are working in six GPs of Dhemaji namely Purba Machkua, Machkua, Sisi, Jurkata, Begangada of
Machkua Block and Ajuhar of Dhemaji Block. According to him 60-70%v crop damage has occurred, some pigs are missing from Jurkuta village and some of the SHGs have lost cocoon stock. In Ajuhar GP
12 villages are water logged. They have personally helped the SHG members and have not got any assistance from any agency.
Discussion with Ramakrishna Mission: Community Kitchen has been opened, feeding 2000 people daily in
Sisiborgaon. They are doing needs assessment of providing the victims with the basic facilities.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE:
Priority Needs:
 Health, Water & Sanitation, Food security and livelihood support, programme. Breach closure and strengthening of embankments, establishing disrupted communication, disaster preparedness and coordination system at the District level
 There is and urgent need to develop effective IEC strategy for awareness creation about different health issues, various government schemes etc. a.
Dhemaji District:
 Immediate need is for temporary toilets at the campsite and embankments and immediate supply of disinfectant to all marooned and affected villages.
 Existing doctors and Para medicals are inadequate to handle the situation. More medical staff and mobile units are required to provide health services. Regular health check up camps and streamlining vaccination.
District administration has asked for support for health services, doctors, mobile units,
 1000Temporary community shelter for 60,000 population, food grain, portable drinking water facilities, education and livelihood support for the people staying on the embankments especially for the most vulnerable community members i.e. women and children, tribes.
 FFW activities should be started for protection of the existing embankments and guarding the breaches from broadening as it also provides livelihood support
 100 tube wells for providing safe drinking water to the people living on the embankment.
6

 Extensive damage to paddy crop and there is no chance of revival. The villagers are planning to grow groundnut in these areas by lack of sufficient seed and are depending on the government to provide it.
 Putting the children back to school because a lot of them are engaging earning for the works created due to floods.
 Livelihood support for affected people is a need since there is a widespread devastation to agricultural crops assistance.
Goalpara District: Request for Situational assessment and assistance accordingly.
Detail of Airport facilities available: There are six airports located at Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tejpur, Jorhat, Silchar
& Lilabari in the state.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
Govt.(State and District Administration); Media; Central Water Commission, GoI; UNDP Team in Assam.
7

NATURE OF THE DISASTER: FLOOD IN BIHAR STATE, INDIA
(As on 10 August 02)
Flood situation in Bihar continues to remain grim though overall the situation is under control. According to Central
Water Commission Officials the situation has showed further let up with the water level of rivers like Kosi, Kamala
Balan, Budhi Gandak and Bagmati maintaining a receding trend in the absence of rains in the catchment areas in
Nepal. So far Nepal has released a record 597,850 cusecs of water into Gandak River at Valmikinagar near the border. The Flood Control department stated there was more than 100 mm rainfall along Gandak on Friday followed by moderate to heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. This might pose a serious threat and could lead to inundation of new areas. The release of more water downstream after rainfall in Gandak catchments areas has increased pressure on embankments in Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, East & West Champaran, Samastipur,
Muzafarpur, and Darbhanga districts resulting in fresh breaches. Populations affected are taking shelter on embankments, railway lines and highlands. Of the 22 districts affected, 9 districts are worst affected with 125 blocks namely Madhubani [19 blocks], Sitamadhi [17], Darbhanga [18], Samastipur[8], Sheohar[4], Katihar[10],Suapual[8],
Araria[9],East Champaran[19] , Muzaffarpur[7], Gopalganj [6] worst affecting 6500 villages. Total 198 Blocks are submerged and around 13.84 million population is affected. More than 13 million people are on the embankment and waiting for relief and temporary shelters. Continuous rains are creating problem for this population who are residing on the road, high land and embankments with out any roof. State government has provided tents to around
40,000 families. Madhubani, one of the worst floods affected district need to lay boulders to protect several villages from erosion caused by Kamla Balan River. Floodwater have inundated fresh areas and spread to three new districts i.e. Madhepura, Khagaria and Begusarai. Flash floods occurred in Minapur, Bhochaha and Gaighat.







AREA AFFECTED:
 Number of District: 22 (Sitamarhi, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Patna, Katihar, E. Champaran, W.
Champaran, Sheohar, Gopalganj, Smastipur, Madhubani, Saharsa Supaul, Shekhpura, Siwan, Araria,
Kishanganj, Purnea, Madhepura and Khagaria, Begusarai) out of 38 districts.
Numbers of Blocks Affected: 193
Partially Affected G.P: 2052
Numbers of Villages affected: 7314
Life loss: 220[Govt. sources];
Cattle Loss: 542
Population affected: 14.03 million
Houses damaged: 111837; estimated value is Rs. 591.5 million [though the house damage assessment is not complete it is estimated that around 102027 kucha houses and 3147 pucha houses are damaged, which
 shows that most of the mud houses are damaged due to stagnation of water]
Total Area affected: 1.7 million hac.
Sitamarhi b.
Nalanda
Muzaffarpur o No of villages affected: 534 i.e. 136 Gram Panchayats
Districts o No of villages marooned: 300 [Arai, Katara, Gaighat, Bochaha, Minapur,
Bandara, Mushahari] o Total population affected: 10.22 lakh o Total agricultural land affected: 1.09 hac.[ estimated value is 700.00 lakh] o Total house affected: 2426 [estimated value is 485.20 lakhs]
Numbers of Blocks affected in district
17
9
7
8

o Public property damaged: 2.00 lakh [not the actual figure] o Human life lost: 19 o Permanent Camps: 28 [8230 persons] o Relief distribution camp: 67 o Health camp: 51 o Animal Husbandry camp: 19 o Boat used: 385[private 380 + 5 army boats] o Polythene distributed: 7840 o Tent: 70
Darbhanga:
The flood situation is improving in the district.
18
Patna
East Champaran
Scohar:
Goplalganj
4
8
4
19
Flood situation still remains grim and the water level is flowing above danger level.
 Blocks Affected – 8 / 14
 No of Villages affected: 300
 No.of Panchayats: 100
 No of life loss: 13
Samastipur: 8
In Samastipur under Rosera sub – division swirling flood waters have entered
Rosera jail beside fresh areas in Hasanpur Block
Madhubani: 3 Breaches in Kamla Eastern / Western and Maharji Embankments 19 has caused severe damage to Madhubani district.
 Blocks affected –19
 Panchayats Affected. 276
 Number of families affected: 50000
 Houses damaged (amount): 3118 million [Kachha + Pucca houses]
 No of Villages affected: 796
 No of Population affected: 25 lakhs
 No. of Relief Camps : 18
 Loss of Life: 5
Saharsa
Sekhpura
West Champaran
Supaul
Araria:
 Nine children were drowned in the swollen Kosi and three others are
Kathiar missing in Gaiyari village Araria district.
1
6
4
8
9
10
IMPACT: (DAMAGE BY SECTOR)
Lifeline and critical facilities: Public Utilities: Estimated Value of damaged public properties – Rs. 281.96 million
Agriculture:
 Cropped area affected: 1.04 million hactare
 Estimated value of crop loss: 1132.4 million
9

 Standing crops in 20 lakh hactare hectares have been affected so far.
Madhubani District: Total Cultivable Area: 245512 hactare
Total Cropped Area: 203529 hactare
Total Crop Area Damaged: 164698
Road And Communication:
Communication network: NH 57 has a long breach, NH 104 has breaches in 19 places and NH 77 has breaches in
40 places. Till date there is no communication to Sitamarhi. Each district has some marooned blocks. Helicopters are used for relief and rescue activities in three districts namely Madhubani, Samastipur and Gopalganj. Heavy loss in road network especially in north Bihar due to frequent flood, which has affected the relief work. 3883 country boats are being used for evacuation and relief distribution. Road, power and communication infrastructure has become dysfunctional in Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts. In some places the road communication has been restored. More breaches are expected on the existing embankments in the coming month due to continuous rain
 Communication was disrupted but has now been restored for light vehicles in Darbhanga District
 Telecommunication has been affected in (Madhubani district – two blocks).
 Jhanjarjpur in Madhubani district had been cut off from the district for many days. Flood has damaged NH
104; NH – 57 and NH - 105
 Telecommunication network: Telephones are working in all areas, where as the VHFs are also used in the relief operation.
 Arai and Katara are cut off from the district headquarters in Muzafarpur district. NH – 77 has a big breach for
3 km and state highway have more than 40 breaches, which hampered the road communication.
 Train services under Samastipur – Darbhanga section has been restricted as tracks were damaged by the floodwater.
Health Facilities:
There are reported increases in the number of diarrhea, kala azar cases and many cases of snakebite in the flood affected districts. Some of the health infrastructures are damaged. Some of the PHCs require live saving drugs like
ORS, Anti snake venom, Anti rabies, Drugs for fever, cough and cold etc. as reported by DMs. Now around 417 health centers and 251veterinary centers are operating.
DM Gopalganj has reported that medicines are not in scarcity but doctors are not reporting at all and out of 30 doctors posted only 13 are available now. Medicines are adequate and also funds. Apprehension of eye flu and diarrhea in the affected areas cannot be ruled out in weeks time.
DM Madhubani has asked for an essential supply of medicines for Conjunctivitis, Diarrhea and Snakebites, which has been reported in large nos. to the district office. Fear of an epidemic outbreak cannot be ruled at this stage when people are staying in unhygienic conditions at the relief camps and once water stars receding health problems may arise. 25 PHC are functioning now
Diarrhea cases are seen in Muzafferpur. The requirement is ORS, Anti snake venom, Anti rabies, Drugs for fever, cough and cold, etc. as per the state control room.
Shelter: The shelter situation might deteriorate once monsoon rains start as the houses will collapse due to weakened foundation. There is very little flood-proofing in the structures.
House damage: Till date 98411 individual houses have been damaged as per the SRC report the estimated value of damaged house is Rs. 346.5 million and the value of public properties Rs 247.5 million, more mud house damage report is expected from districts after the receding of the water.
PROJECTED EVOLUTION/SECONDARY THREATS:
 Water level of North-south Bihar is rising may affect more blocks and villages in Muzafferpur, Darbhanaga and Samastipur.
10

 Temporary shelters are required to provide roof to the 2.6 lakh families evacuees. Sanitation will be major problem for these areas as all people are residing on the road and embankments. Temporary toilet is required to keep the environment clean, which will help in controlling the spread of epidemic.
 Ready to eat food is more suitable for these areas as availability of fuel will be a problem.
 As rainfall trend shows that there will be heavy rainfall in the month of August and September and the situation may continue till October.
 ORS packets are not adequate for the affected areas. Most of the doctors are busy in health camps and may need more doctors with medicines after receding of the water. There is a need of bleaching powders, lime and halogene tablets immediately for the 22 districts.
 Health problem will be a major threat to these areas. Immunization is totally stopped after 2 nd July 2002. due to communication disruption and people on the road.
 Fodder will be a major problem for these areas after few days, and there is chance of epidemic among the animals due to stagnation of water.
 There will be no Crop in all affected areas before October. Here most of the people are marginal farmer or agricultural labour, they may not get any opportunity for their livelihood. Migration may occur after few days.
 Food is required for the affected population for next three months, as government has already declared that each family will get one-quintal wheat and 250/- per month, the existing stock is inadequate.
 Fuel will be a major problem as wheat is distributed.
 Drinking water is a major problem those who are residing on the road and embankments.
Water level of the following rivers as of today:
Buddhi Gandak -
Bagmati –
Adhwara –
34 cm & 126 cm above Danger Level at Samastipur and Rossera
55 cm above Danger Level at Beniabad and 75 cm Hayaghat
21 cm & 91 cm above the Red Mark at Kamtaul and Ekmighat.
Kosi –
NATIONAL RESPONSE:
115 cm at Baltara
 3 Army helicopters and military boats have been called and are operationalizing in Darbhanga, Seohar &
Madhubani districts. 27039 food packets and 26250 packets by military boats and 640.06quintals of other materials have been air dropped in Seohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani since 24. 07.2002
 Services of 2 helicopters are being taken in Samastipur and one in Supaul District.
 3 Army column are engaged in relief and rescue work in Gopalganj, Madhubani & Samastipur
 Govt. has provided polythene for 40,000 families
 Services of two helicopters have been requisitioned for Samastipur.
 3-army column engaged in relief and rescue work in Gopalganj, Madhubani and Samastipur.
 1 Column of army boat have been assisting for rescue and relief work in Gopalganj district
 Facing a grim flood situation in 19 of 39 districts, Bihar has requested the federal government to release Rs. 2 billion from the Natural Calamity Relief Fund to speed up relief and rescue work.
 With the flood water receding in many places spraying of DDT is underway
 Ready to eat food are already distributed to the affected people through air dropped, distributed through boats etc.
 Centre has announced to provide 25,000tonnes of food grains free of cost to the state for distribution among the flood affected people
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES:
 State government and district administration are busy in rescue evacuation and relief distribution. Action has been taken to assess the drug position of each district for future health problem. Temporary shelters are mobilized for evacuees.
 The relief and rehabilitation department have already allocated Rs. 16 Cr for relief work. Government flood control camps have been activated/ Police outposts have also been activated. Relief stocks available at
Panchayat & blockhead quarters. Relief Camps: 500 functioning
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 Ready to eat food are already distributed to the affected people through air dropped, distributed through boats etc. 27039 packets has been distributed through air dropping and 26250 packets by Military Boats.
 Bihar, Chief Minister have directed the district collectors to assess the damage and then get Indira Awas
Yojana houses constructed for BPL house holds. The dependents of each people killed will be paid Rs.
50,000 as compensation.
OPERATIONS / MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES: o 5988 boats have been deployed; three helicopters are used for air dropped. 19 Powerboat have been sent to affected district and 7 more to be provided today. Some army boats have been deployed. o Gratuitous Relief as Wheat distributed: 47503.81Qtls o Readymade food distributed: 2647.02 Qtls o Matchboxes: 93285 [nos] o Candles: 99710 [nos] o Polythene Sheets [distributed]: 184683 metres. o Kerosene. Oil distributed: 22460 litres. o Cash Dole: Rs. 23.13 million o Mobile health Units is functioning at certain sites in Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.
State government is provided tents to around 5000 families only and unable to mobilize more temporary shelters.
They are requesting all developmental agencies to provide tent and polythene. Temporary shelter is priority need of the state.
CO-ORDINATION:
Very Few NGOs / INGOs have started working on the ground. Oxfam has started damage assessment in
Madhubani District and Indian Red Cross is active at the ongoing situation. In most of the places the Indian
Red cross is supporting government for relief distribution. Gram Vikas Parishad is also assisting in the current situation according to the DM, Madhubani
On 7.08.02 the first Coordination Committee meeting was held at the SRC office. Following issues were discussed:
 Relief Commissioner-cum – Secretary has requested all the participants to mobilize more resources and help the flood victims in the above-mentioned sectors.
 Relief and rehabilitation Dept., Bihar will provide the logistic for delivery of the items if any body need any help for distribution.
 Items mobilized from International agencies are the following
Agency
UNICEF
Polythene/ tarpaulins/ tents
5000 families
PVC Roll Family packet
Halogen
e tabs
15,000,0
00
Bleaching
powder( kg)
1,00,000
Tube well
Clot h
Volunteers/ Human resources
Indian Red
Cross
Society
UNDP
5000 families 2400 sqfeets
4000 families
2000 child ren
4000 families
[1000 already given
Samastipur] to
100 to
Samasti pur
IT facilitator, Logistic and other Human
Resources immediate assessment for
CENCORE
D
Volunteers for relief distribution
PRIORITY NEEDS:
 The immediate need is Drinking Water and more attention has to be to check the epidemic, as the water will remain for next three months.
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 Temporary shelter is the top priority need of the state. The polythene or tents are not available locally and state government is requesting for polythene to the evacuees.
 Sufficient steps to be taken by the health department for disinfection of drinking water and other water bodies in the rural areas. They need bleaching powders, lime and halogen tablets. SRC has expressed that there is a need for strengthening the embankment on Bagmati and Kamlabalan Rivers.
 Boat availability is a big constrain due to non-occurrence of floods in the recent past.
 District Magistrate, Gopalganj has requested for health assistance [need of doctors] and situational assessment.
 District Magistrate, Darbhanga has reported shortage of boats hindering the relief work in the interior pockets of the district where affected people are stranded now. [Relief Camps]
 Temporary toilets are required to keep the environment clean, which will help in controlling the spread of epidemics.
 Strengthening of medical control room, introducing disease surveillance system
 Health Secretary has stated that they have enough stocks of medicines to cope with the floods, with the exception of anti-snake venom sera.
 The government would appreciate if drugs against kala azar are supplied.
 Strengthening immunization network
 Co-ordination between Govt., NGOs & Community
 Up gradations of control rooms
 After receding of water for next two month as the next crop will be on October. Food for work will essential to check the migration.
 There is huge loss due to breaches and damage to road network. International support is required close the breach as well as provide livelihood option to the affected people. i.Gap Analysis
Sector
Housing
Rescue and relief distribution
Drinking water
Sanitation
Food
Health
Items
Temporary Shelter for 15.00 lakh population
Boat for relief distribution and evacuation
Life jacket for volunteers, those who are involved for rescue and relief distribution
Safe drinking water
Provided
1,66,286 mt.
5567[mechanized, country, govt. and private boats]
Not adequate
Bleaching powder
Tube well
Sanitation facilities
Baby food
ORS
Live saving drugs
Requirement
1,35,000 mt polythene sheets
More rubber boats are required for relief distribution
100 life jackets
Arranged locally
Not adequate
Not supplied
Available in PHCs
Available in PHCs and fund provided for procurement
Halogene tab., mobile water purifiers, tube well at embankments
5,000 bags
20000 tube wells for camp site and the embankments, roads, railway tracks
Urgent need as people are living on the embankments and contaminating the areas
Baby food required for more than 54 lakhs children for three months
30,00,000 packets
Anti snake venom, anti rabies, ARI,
Fever, skin infection
Children and women Clothes Clothes
REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSISTANCE:
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 UNDP through coordination with the local administration is providing temporary shelter and other essentials.
UNDP is assisting Relief Commissioner, Bihar in enhancing the strong coordinating System with Information
Technology and Management Information System support. OCHA and Govt. of Norway Grant is being used for provision of temporary roofing and emergency drinking water for population living on roads, embankments and railway tracks. UNV livelihood and Habitat Specialist are assessing the need and possibility of a recovery programme. 2 National UNV doctors are providing health assistance to Sitamarhi
District.
 UNICEF is mobilizing 4000 bags of bleaching powders ORS packets are not adequate for the affected areas. Most of the doctors are busy in health camps and may need more doctors with medicines after receding of the water.
 IRCS are reviewing the relief operation and condition of health services in the flood-affected areas. 45 tents and
38 rubber boats has been provided by them. In most of the places the Indian Red Cross is supporting government for relief distribution.
 USAID and Concern World Wide have shown their interest and will conduct a preliminary assessment. Swiss
Red Cross team is here for assessment of the situation.
 UNDP will provide polythene for another 3000 families and 100 swallow tube wells on campsites and embankments for safe drinking water.
 UNICEF, Bihar will provide polythene sheets for 5000 families. 100,000 kg bleaching powder, 5,00,000 halogen tablets.
 IRCS has distributed 45 tents and few food materials in some of the worst affected districts. IRCS also will provide polythene for 5000 families with some family kits.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION: o State Relief Commissioners Office, Patna o Deputy. Secretary. Relief & Rehabilitation Department, Patna, Bihar o UNDP Team in Bihar o District Magistrate, Affected Districts o Director, IRCS, Bihar o UNICEF, Bihar o Media Reports
Central Water Commission.
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