Situation update on Uttarkashi flash flood June 2013
About Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi District is one of the administrative districts with 6 blocks,
with its headquarters located at Uttarkashi. Uttarkashi District situated in
the extreme north-west corner of the state and is spread over an area of
8016 sq km with population of 16,220 where Males constitute 57% of the
population and females 43%. Uttarkashi has an average literacy rate of
78% and lies high in the Himalayas range. Uttarkashi district contains the
source of both the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, which attract thousands
of Hindu pilgrims. Uttarkashi is situated on the banks of
river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1352 m above sea level.
Flash flood 2013
Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Tehri districts are highly
affected districts where around 60 and above houses were
reported damaged; 20 people Deaths were confirmed, 50-60
people were reported missing; and around 10,000 numbers of
people are affected. Some of the River bank areas of these
districts have submerged in the water
Flash flood Uttarkashi 2013
Since 14th June, Friday, continuous rainfall has been noticed; this
resulted in the increased water level and on 16th June, a massive
disaster occurred, because of which Water flow increased in
Asiganga and Bhagirathi River to such a level that caused heavy
damages to property and washed away many houses, bridges
due to which road connectivity has also been destroyed at
Tiloth. Looking at the situation, people evacuated their homes,
Offices, shop etc and started shifting towards safe location. On
17th June 2013, Joshiyara location was also badly affected and
water flow washed away many houses, shops and hotels of
Joshiyara. Pilgrims got stuck, and as per the information they
spend their night on their vehicle and were in very bad
condition that there was no provision of fooding and shelter.
Electricity,
water
facility,
Road
network
and
mobile
(Communication) network also has been damaged.
Damage assessment as of 19th June 2013:
On 19th June 2013, a Damage/ Need assessment was done by
the PU Team, and formed eight teams as per the affected area ,
and following figures has been reported;

No. of Villages, houses, Business damaged and families affected
1. In village Udri, their are 4 deaths have been recorded
due to cloudburst & landslide
2. Village Joshiyara & Tiloth are highly affected from
the current disaster and most of houses, shops,
hotels and public facilities have been broken down
and some of them are in dangerous situation. The
families have been moved to relief camps or shifted
to other places. As per primary information, total 123
houses have been completely collapsed, and 22
houses have been partially damaged, 18 Families lost
their household material and living in relief camps.
3. In village Didsari, total 35 families are affected by the
disaster because 15 houses of the village have
washed away.
4. 6 houses of village Pilang have collapsed and the
families are living in another safe places
5. The village Jadau has comes under the landslide
zone and the villagers have evacuated their houses
and living in the temporary shelters
6. 26 Grocery shop/ Business has been reported which
have been completely damaged
7. 677 families of Joshiyara, Tiloth, Didsari, Lonthru,
Gangori, Udri, Tiloth, and Joshiyara have been highly
affected.

No. of Roads and Bridges destroyed
1. Most of the road network connecting uttarkashi to
Gangotri has been damaged. Also in SBMA-Plan
working areas road connectivity between Malla to
Lata, Uttarkashi to Dunda, Sangamchatti to Seku,
Dingla Power house to Sangamchatti has been
damaged.
2. 4 Bridges, Narula bridge, bridge connecting Loanthru
to Bayana, 2 Bridges of Kishanpur were reported
collapsed

Other damages and inconvenience
1. 10 to 15 chaaniya (Temporary settlement of villagers)
completely destroyed at Pilang. Also Junior high
school and primary school building were highly
affected
2. In Jadau people have shifted to chaaniya, as advised
villagers to evacuate their houses.
3. Bridge, agriculture land and other village path of
Dhanari area (Pipli & Sankurna cluster) have been
fully damaged by flash flood
4. Forest Department Park and building at Gangori is at
Danger.
5. Incident of landslides at Sangamchatti and Bhankoli
started devastation and further affected to the life of
the people.
6. 30 Families of Agora and Dandalka got stuck at
chaaniya
7. No electricity and communication Network in Harshil,
Gangotri, Gnagnani, Bhatwari, Malla, Maneri, Netala
and Sangamchatti area
8. One cowshed destroyed and one cow death has
been reported in village Kishanpur.
9. 11 people have lost their agricultural land at Baluda,
and at Pilang also agricultural damage has been
reported. 206 Agricultural Land have been Damaged
at Bhatwari, Panchangaun, Bagsari
10.
More then 7000 pilgrims have got stuck
between
Uttarkashi
to
information by the Team.
Requirements as per the need assessment
 Tea
 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
 Milk
 Blanket
 Plastic Mate
 Solar light
 Water filter
Gangotri
as
per
the









Medicine kit
Soap
Tooth Brush & Tooth Paste
Towel
Candle & Match Box
Oil and Comb
Dustbin
Sanitary Napkin
and other daily needs
Immediate Response by SBMA-Plan
7 Relief camps have been established by the government and
SBMA-Plan Staff members have visited these camps for the
need assessment.
As per the need of the people, following
material were made available by SBMA-Plan.
 Food arrangements have been made, and supplied Tea
and Breakfast to approx. 600 People on daily basis.
 22 blankets were provided to needy families
 First Aid kit was provided to prevent the people in the
relief camps from fever, Diarrhea, Cold and Cough etc.
 Time to time information is being provided to the pilgrims
for the clearance of the road.
 Around 40 staff of SBMA-Plan rescued the pilgrims who
got stuck at Gangori, Maneri, Lata and Bhatwari Area.
 Sports material and other activity material were provided
in the relief camp, in order to engage children
 IAG meeting has been called by SBMA-Plan to take joint
action for immediate response and relief.
 Coordination
with
Disaster
risk
management
and
mitigation cell and district administration is being done.
Information is being collected from disaster affected remote
area and as per the requirement further action will be taken. We
are still consolidating the data of rapid assessment and the
detailed information will be given up to 23rd June-13.
Reported by
Gopal Thapliyal
Project Manager
SBMA-Plan Uttarkashi