SITUATION REPORT # 2
Assam (North East), India
September 26, 2012
Country Program: India
Type of Event: Flood
A. CONTEXT
The flood situation in the State of
Assam remains unchanged. Over
1,760,000 people in 2,055 villages
under 69 revenue circles of 16 districts
of the state are hit by the current
wave of floods. In all, 18 people have
reportedly died due to the flood and
seven are reported missing. Over
384,000 people are now living in 421
relief camps. Out of the 16 affected
districts (Dhemaji, Lakhimpur,
Morigaon, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh,
Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Baksa, Barpeta,
Darrang, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon,
Nalbari, Sivasagar,) the worst affected
districts are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur.
The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level in Dibrugarh, Nematighat, Tezpur,
Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri. In Goalpara and Dhubri, the river continues to rise while in
Tezpur and Guwahati, the water is remaining at the same level. In Nematighat, the water is
slowly receeding. Similarly, the Burhidehing is flowing above the danger level at Khowang in
Dibrugarh district, the Subansiri at Badatighat in Lakhimpur, the Dhansiri at Numaligarh in
Golaghat and the Jia Bharali at N T Road Xing at Sonitpur.
The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Army and the
Indian Air Force are now engaged in the rescue and relief operations.
According to the official flood bulletin of the ASDMA, five people in Tinsukia district, four in
Morigaon district, two each in Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts and one each in Darrang,
Golaghat, Sibsagar, Nagaon and Kamrup districts have reportedly died due to flood. Six of the
seven people missing belonged to Tinsukia and one belonged to Dibrugarh district.
B. AFFECTED POPULATION / NEEDS ASSESSMENT
In Tinsukia district, people are taking shelter in relief camps as well as on roads and on raised
land. As of now, no humanitarian agencies have reached the sub-divisions to start relief
operations. Only the local government is responding with food items (rice, dal and salt).
In Dibrugarh district, food items such as rice, lentils and salt were distributed in various relief
camps set up by the district administration in the flood-affected areas, but nothing for the
livestock. “Fodder for cattle will be distributed tomorrow,” Anukur Bharali, Circle Officer,
Dibrugarh (West) revenue circle said.
1
Flood victims have settled on roads and other unaffected areas but there has been no shelter
for cattle. Hundreds of starving livestock were seen drenched in the rain in several areas in
Larua mouza and in Chabua areas. Meanwhile, medical teams and veterinary officials are
assisting as well. Some affected families moved to the embankments, highlands, schools and
set up makeshift camps on their own. As of now 8,891 families received relief material (rice,
dal and salt) from the district administration. The PHED has positioned NaDCC tablets at the
Block and Panchayat office; however, they have not been distributed in the villages yet.
According to the district administration, the immediate needs identified in the affected areas
are temporary shelter materials (tarpaulins), food items (including Baby food), hygiene kits
(including Phenyle, Bleaching, Soaps, Aquatabs, ORS Packets), sanitary cloths, blankets,
mosquito nets and safe drinking water.
C. PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION
CRS is coordinating with IAG members, local district NGOs and CBDRR partners to monitor the
situation. An IAG meeting is called for on September 27th to plan an assessment and response
by the different agencies. CRS partners SKD and RVC are coordinating with the district and
block administration for monitoring the situation.
D. PROGRAMMING
CRS partners SKD and RVC have regularly updated CRS on the situation through visits to the
affected districts (Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji) as well as by collecting
information from the respective DDMAs. The CBDRR villages under RVC and SKD have been
severely affected; therefore, all project activities have been kept on hold. CRS is planning an
assessment in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts starting on September
27th.
E. DONOR UPDATE
Possible donors will be approached based on the assessment findings and scale of the flooding.
F. LOGISTICS / SECURITY
No security concerns identified.
Tezpur Social Service Society in
 20 liter buckets
 Aquatabs
 Markin Cloth
 Tarpaulins
Prepositioned stock to cover 2,000 household is available with
Tezpur, Assam. The items that are available are as follows:
 Rope
 Plastic Mats
 Sanitary Napkins
 Bathing and Washing Soap
G. STAFFING
CRS has trained emergency assessment and programming and staff in Guwahati and in other
offices in India as well as trained CBDRR partner staffs to adequately respond to the flood, if
required. Emergency Coordinator and Country Representative are providing constant support
to team based in Guwahati. Considering the number of districts affected, two of External CRS
staffs located outside Guwahati has been alerted and are ready to be deployed for response.
H. Source of Information
 Media reports (The Assam Tribune dated September 26, 2012)
 IAG Joint Assessment Report
 ASDMA report
2