Sphere India Unified Response Strategy Situation report (India Floods 2008) 01 st September 2008 Part 1: Weather Forecast Severe Weather Warnings (Source: IMD, Date: 1 st September, 2008) HEAVY RAINFALL WARNING (as on 01 st September 08) ISOLATED HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY RAINFALL IS LIKELY OVER ARUNACHAL PRADESH, ASSAM & MEGHALAYA AND SUB-HIMALAYAN WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM. ISOLATED HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO LIKELY OVER SOUTH KONKAN & GOA, TAMIL NADU, KERALA, COASTAL KARNATAKA AND LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS. ALL INDIA WEATHER FORECASTS (VALID FOR NEXT 5 DAYS) 01 st August, 2008 CHIEF FEATURES (Based on 1430 hours IST observations) The axis of monsoon trough continues to run close to foothills of the Himalayas. The similar scenario is likely to continue during next 2-3 days. Fairly widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over northeastern States and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 3 days and decrease thereafter. An east-west shear zone with embedded cyclonic circulations one over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu coast and another over Interior Karnataka persist. Under its influence, scattered to fairly widespread rain/thundershower activity is likely along the west coast and over parts of south Peninsula during next 2 days. Forecast valid up to 1430 hours IST of 04 th September, 2008 NORTHWEST INDIA [J & K, H. P., UTTARAKHAND, PUNJAB, HARYANA, DELHI, WEST UP] EAST INDIA [EAST UP, JHARKHAND, BIHAR, ORISSA,, WEST BENGAL & SIKKIM] NORTHEAST INDIA [ARUNACHAL PRADESH, NMM & T, ASSAM, MEGHALAYA,] Isolated rain/thundershowers is likely over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, north Haryana and Uttarakhand and mainly dry over rest region. Rain/thundershowers are likely at many places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. Rain/thundershowers are likely at a few places over Gangetic West Bengal and coastal Orissa and isolated over the rest region. Rain/thundershowers are likely at many places over Assam & Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh and at a few places over the rest region. SOUTH INDIA Rain/thundershowers are likely at many places over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, [TN, AP, KERALA,, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep. KARNATAKA, Rain/thundershowers are likely at a few places over Rayalaseema, Interior LAKSHADWEEP, ANDAMAN & Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. NICOBAR ISLANDS] Isolated rain/thundershowers are likely over the rest region. WEST INDIA Rain/thundershowers are likely at a few places over Konkan & Goa and Madhya Sphere India Secretariat Page 1 of 15
[GOA, MAHARASHTRA (OTHER THAN VIDARBHA), GUJARAT, RAJASTHAN] CENTRAL INDIA [M.P., CHHATTISGARH, VIDARBHA] Maharashtra. Isolated rain/thundershowers are likely over south Gujarat Region and Marathawada and mainly dry over rest region. Isolated rain/thundershowers are likely over East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha and mainly dry over rest region. Warning (During next 48 hours): Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya and Sub- Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over south Konkan & Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Coastal Karnataka and Lakshadweep islands. Weather Outlook from 1430 IST of 04 September to 1430 IST of 6 th September, 2008 (Based on numerical weather products): Scattered rainfall activity is likely over Andaman & Nicobar Islands, West coast and Lakshadweep. Current Meteorological Analysis and Weather Forecast for next One Week (based on IMD press release 29 August 2008) The axis of monsoon trough continues to run close to foothills of the Himalayas. The Numerical Weather Prediction models suggest that the monsoon trough may continue to run close to the foothills of the Himalayas during the week. Under its influence, widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during the week. However, the intensity of rainfall is likely to decease during second half of the week. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka during first two days of the week in association with a low level cyclonic circulation. The rainfall activity is likely to decrease thereafter. Increase in rainfall activity likely over Kerala and Coastal Karnataka from today onwards. The enhanced rainfall belt is likely to extend to Konkan & Goa from 31st August. Subdued rainfall activity is likely to continue over central parts of the country. Sphere India Secretariat Page 2 of 15
Source: India Meteorological Department, Govt. of India Sphere India Secretariat Page 3 of 15
Part 2: Situation Report of affected areas Data Source: SITREP from Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division) RAINFALL SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY (as on 31.08.2008) Sphere India Secretariat Page 4 of 15
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Situation report (Date 01st September 2008) Sphere India Secretariat Page 7 of 15
KOSI RIVER ON 08 TH AUGUST 2008 (Source BBC News) Sphere India Secretariat Page 8 of 15
KOSI RIVER ON 24 TH AUGUST 2008 (Source BBC News) Sphere India Secretariat Page 9 of 15
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Human deaths As per provisional information received from the affected States/UTs, 07 human deaths were reported from State of Bihar raising the total death toll to 1736 from 1729. Central Water Commission (CWC) According to Central Water Commission (CWC) report dated 31 st August, 2008, there are 25 moderate and 35 low flood situation sites. Sphere India Secretariat Page 11 of 15
Information from state IAGs and members: Assam (as on 28 August 08), information sent by IAG members, Assam: Majuli: a river island in Brahmaputra river Present Flood Situation of Majuli 1. Total Villages affected :135 out of total 154 revenue village (Affected since 2 nd August 2008) 2. Total Gram Panchyat affected : 18 out of total 20. 3. Total families affected : 30992. 4. Total Population affected : 1, 35, 000 out of total 154000 (2001 census) 5. Total families displaced : 12,000 6. Total families living with water in traditional Chang Ghar : 18992 7. Total Crop area damaged : 9135 hector 8. Loss of Human Life : 4 9. Total livestock affected : 2, 72, 132 10. Loss of livestock : 41, 212 11. Land area inundated : More then 90% 12. Total 0-3 year children affected : 13,875 13. Total 3-6 year Children affected : 15,341 14 Total lactating mothers affected : 2543 Bihar (as on 27 Aug, 08), information sent by IAG member, Bihar: FLOOD HIGHLIGHTS Release of water from barrage and resultant 3 km breach in the Kosi River Bhimnagar barrage adjoining the Nepal and Bihar border has caused serious floods to six eastern districts of Bihar. The breach occurred on August 18th near Kushaha village in Nepal, adjoining Supaul district in Bihar. Kosi barrage was designed to control floods. Due to big breach, Kosi River called Sorrow of Bihar has changed its course and now flowing through villages that have not been flood prone. Over past 250 years, Kosi has shifted over 120 km from east to west and the present shift is exactly reverse to east. Critically affected districts are Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnea and Katihar. Supaul district is the worst hit. As per government reports- 2.5 million people in 441 villages of Supaul, Madhepura, Araria, Saharsa, Katihar and Purnea are worst affected. More than a million people are displaced within 5 days of flooding. Army and Air force personnel engaged in rescue operations as death count estimate becomes difficult in Bihar. Lack of rescue boats and access are hindering operations in eastern districts of Bihar. State Government (Chief Minister and State Disaster Management Secretary requested Oxfam and its partner- Bihar Sewa Samiti for rescue boats. Two rescue motorboats have been moved from partner location in Madhubani to Araria district while one more is reaching Supaul today. Bihar State Government has issued emergency appeal to international and national NGOs for support in rescue and relief operations. Sphere India Secretariat Page 12 of 15
High current inundation is so massive that it has altered the settlements of decades with flooding in relatively safe villages. The affected areas are not traditionally flood prone and hence have caught people in crisis. It s difficult to estimate the deaths (at the moment 30 as per government reports) as river current is dangerous and its difficult to reach out. Sphere India Secretariat Page 13 of 15
Part 3: Responses of different agencies Data Source: SITREP from Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division) DEPLOYMENT OF NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE (NDRF) ON 31 st August, 2008 LOGISTIC SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ON 24 th August, 2008 Sphere India Secretariat Page 14 of 15
Information on response from state IAGs: Bihar: Response of different agencies attached in a separate excel sheet. Important links: 1. Relief Web India (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc104?openform&rc=3&cc=ind) 2. India Meteorological Department (http://www.imd.gov.in/) 3. Central Water Commission Current Flood Forecast (http://www.indiawater.com/ffs/reports/rptcurrent.asp) 4. National Disaster Management in India, Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI Flood Situation Reports - (http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/flood- 2008/floodMonth/floodsAugust.htm) Note: SITREPs can also be downloaded from Sphere India Website www.sphereindia.org.in Maps can also be obtained from the site for better view. Assessment reports and situation reports and Photographs from states are also available at the Sphere India Website www.sphereindia.org.in Important Contacts: Sl. No. Name Designation Mob: E-mail 1. Mr. Vikrant COO, Sphere 09818666831 vik@sphereindia.org.in Mahajan India 2. Mr. Raman Focal Point, ICT, 09336041661 raman@sphereindia.org.in Kumar Sphere India 3. Ms. GIS Person, 09968025847 delhi.gis@acted.org Aparajita ACTED Sphere India Secretariat Page 15 of 15