SITUATION REPORT - ASSAM FLOODS NATURE OF THE DISASTER: FLOODS 24.07.04 at 13.00 Hrs. Heavy floods in Assam have affected all the 27 districts of the state. These districts are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Shivsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagoan, Morigaon, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Berpetta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Dhubri, Chirang, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Hailakhandi, Cachar, Udalguri, North Cachar Hills and Baska. The flood has caused widespread damages to human life, property, standing crops, flood control embankments and other basic infrastructure especially in the districts of Kamrup and Nalbari, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur. Rail & road communication has been totally disrupted at various places due to submergence of the railway tracks and the roads. Incessant rain since the last week of June, 2004 through out the State of Assam and catchments areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Bhutan, has resulted in the rise water level of river Brahmaputra and its tributaries causing floods in the state. CURRENT SITUATION : Flood situation in the state has deteriorated with heavy rains over all the places in the state and in the neighboring states and has resulted in the swelling of river Brahmaputra and its tributaries in different districts. Situation in few of the districts in upper Assam is improving as compared to the districts in Lower Assam. But the situation of Barak valley (Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi Districts) and Majuli Island remains very critical due to continuous rains for the past three days and there is no outlet for water discharge. Rains are still continuing and as per the Central water Commissions released on 23 July 2004, few rivers are receding but river Brahmaputra is still flowing above the danger level at Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Water level (Metres) 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Dibrugarh Neamatighat Water level of river Brahmaputra and it's tributaries as on 23.07.04 Tezpur Guwahati Goalpara Dhubri Naharkatia Khowang Badatighat Sibsagar Nangl-Ghat Golaghat Numaligarh Recording Stations N.T.Rd.Xing Kampur Dharamtul N.H.RdXing N.T.Rd.Xing N.H.RdXing Rd Bridge Golokganj A.P.Ghat Matizuri Karimganj Kailashahar Sonamura WL at 0800 hrs DANGER LEVEL Kamrup, Goalpara and Dhubri. Similarly BurhiDehing in Dhubri, Subansiri in North Lakhimpur, Dhansiri in Golaghat, Kopili in Nagaon, Sankosh in Dhubri, Barak & Katakhal river in Cachar, and Kushiyara in Karimganj are flowing above the danger level. So far, 9775 villages and a population of more than 10.82 million have been affected. Total area under waters is 2.4 million hectares which 0.7 million hectares is crop area alone. Death toll so far has increased to 119, and maximum deaths of 20 due to floods and landslides have has taken place in Kamrup (metro) district.
DAMAGE DETAILS: District Area affected (Hectares) village (Nos.) Population affected Cropped area affected (Hectares) Relief camps/ Shelter inmates Loss of Human lives Cattle lost Houses damaged (F/P) Kamrup 225500.00 639 1340996 61451.00 110 250000 8 55 45000 Kamrup(M) 15326.00 70 80000 3333.00 32 2465 20 1100 Nalbari 112850.00 609 450495 62864.00 3 120000 12 10000 Barpeta 253150.00 831 1190500 106204.00 105 120000 14 15365 Morigaon 101325.00 591 712532 56285.00 64 13 41869 Darrang 548523.00 388 481477 40809.00 62 32314 8 2784 Sonitpur 23685.00 272 236703 14821.00 34 135982 7 1078 Goalpara 44967.00 462 460000 29343.00 73 94900 4 Jorhat 108700.00 208 216000 17300.00 27 5767 47 Dhubri 160735.00 994 1332500 20988.00 82 121000 N.Lakhimpur 104193.00 460 343545 31241.00 1 580 4 515 Hailakandi 87250.00 205 125800 4500.00 Karimganj 83366.00 517 425560 14986.00 105 225950 4 5347 Dhemaji 53162.00 625 267200 36026.00 50 17082 2 251 Bongaigaon 59726.00 473 458000 20089.00 87 111000 6 4500 Kokrajhar 73953.00 127 74135 58973.00 5 571 5 50 7885 Karbi-Anglong 12931.00 200 150000 6632.00 1 Chirang 25279.00 253 215000 199.06 11 3600 7 103 Tinsukia 28500.00 116 60000 8400.00 2115 1000 2000 Dibrugarh 9260.00 134 112215 5109.00 50 20552 85 Golaghat 22585.00 94 89653 9728.00 45 58112 Nagaon 201250.00 842 1413270 91578.00 460 78220 2 50 7560 Shivsagar 8710.00 102 63000 2100.00 50 Cachar 65250.00 264 420000 63924.00 130 93600 2 Udalguri 6255.00 184 103200 4120.00 4262 N.C.Hills 55 7360 205.20 280 Baska 60 Total 2436431 9775 10829141 771208.26 1536 1493810 119 1155 150081 Road Network : As per the Public Works Department reports - A total of 562 kms of National Highways and 3567 kms of State highways and rural roads have been damaged by the current wave of foods. 500 bridges have also been damaged in total till date. Status of the National Highways (NH):- - NH-31 between Nalbari and Berpetta has been breached by 20 metres. A stretch of 81 kms between Abhayapur in Bongaigaon district to Chansari in Kamrup on this highway has been damaged. After the disruption of traffic through NH-31 on the South Bank, an alternative channel of road communication to the rest of India were routed from Guwahati through the NH-37 via Goalpara in the North Bank of the Brahmaputra - A stretch of 1 km on NH-37 in Tinsukia districts has been damaged. Flood waters of the Kopilli and Killing rivers have overtopped the NH at Palahguri and have thus disrupted the communication between Lower and Upper Assam. Significantly this is the only link between A scene of NH-31 in Dhubri District the State s northern part and rest of the country. Traffic movement on the NH in Nagaon Division and Dibrugarh division has been closed. - NH-39 connecting Guwahati -Imphal has been cutoff due to landslides at three places. - NH-44 connecting Assam- Agartala (Tripura) has been cutoff at Sonapur in Meghalaya due to a major landslide. About 300 meters of the highway has been blocked. This is the only lifeline highway for entire Barak Valley, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. - NH-52 has been overtopped at Telijan point about two kilometers from Dhemaji town (Samarjan) since 19 th July and in many other places in Dhemaji districts.
- NH-53 Silchar-Imphal road has been disrupted due to overflowing of river Barak at several places. - NH-54 Extension road- the 184 km long road between Lumding-Silchar in North Cachar hills has been damaged at several places due to landslides. 8 nos. of culverts and three no. of bridges have also been damaged. - Extensive damage to NH -31B, 31C, 36, 37, 52A, 54 and 151 has submerged at various places. Traffic movement on NH-152 and 154 remains disrupted due to landslides at various points. Status of the State Highways and Public Works Department (PWD) Roads:- - North Lakhimpur: The PWD roads from Bihupuria to Badati have been completely breached. - Berpetta: State PWD roads have submerged at several places and the PWD road connecting Berpetta town to NH-31 has been breached. A bridge on NH-31 has been washed away near Rangiya. - Cachar : Badarpur-Jowai road remains disrupted - Jorhat :Road communication between Bongaon-Kamalabari- Garmur-Lower Majuli breached and badly affected Bridges:- - The RCC Bridge no. 20/2 on Orang-Majbat-Rupa road in Udalguri district has been damaged. - RCC Bridge on NH-37 has developed cracks due to displacement of embankment. - Railway Communication network : - Lumding Badarpur (hill section) has been suspended due to landslides in the North Cachar Hills since 10-7- 2004. - Trains in the Rangia-North Lakhimpur-Tezpur section remain disrupted. - Rail traffic between upper Assam and Guwahati remains suspended for submergence of tracks in Nagaon district by river Kopili and Killing. - A section of meter gauge tracks between Rangiya-Bongaigaon remains submerged. Telecommunication network has also been affected and links to various rural exchanges remains disrupted. A total of 60 breaches on embankments have taken place this year, of which 24 major breaches have taken place during the month of July, 2004. Vital installations, telephone lines, educational institutions and other electricity substations are badly damaged. PROJECTED THREATS: Due to inundation, there are very few storage points. The relief stock (food materials) is also getting damaged A bridge on NH-37 at Rangjoli has become extremely weak. Most of the traffic are plying on this weak bridge, due to disruption on NH-31. Further damages to the bridge might disrupt the transport and relief operations through this highway. Erosion by the rivers is posing a threat to the villages on the banks of river Brahmaputra and it s tributaries. As all the water sources have got submerged, there is scarcity of drinking water. Few health related problems has been reported. There are chances of epidemics due to water logging. Landslides at several places are hindering the transportation of relief materials to the marooned villages and remote areas. This may result in scarcity of food in many areas. ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES: CENTRAL LEVEL: Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made an aerial survey of affected district and reviewed the situation with Hon ble Chief Minister and Senior officials of the State on 20 th July. Earlier Union Minister for Water Resources had reviewed the flood situation in the state. Assistance by Army and Air-Force- 20 composite flood relief columns of Army is assisting the state Government in relief and rescue operations. 11 Air Force helicopters and 69 power boats are engaged for rescue of marooned people in Kamrup, Nalbari and other lower Assam districts. Army speed boats are being Army personnel providing relief to the flood victims in Dhemaji utilized for rescue of the affected people. 3 composite flood relief columns are providing assistance in Nalbari; 3 composite flood relief columns in Kamrup; 1 composite flood relief column in Darrang; 1 composite flood relief column in Nagoan, 3 composite flood relief column in Goalpara, 1 composite flood relief column in Morigaon district, 1 column in Berpetta, 3 columns in Tinsukia and 4 columns in cachar(silchar). A specialist Search and Rescue (SAR)Team of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) along with two boats and medical team have been deployed in Hajo of Kamrup and Barama of Nalbari districts At the request of the state Government, the Central Government has made available helicopters at Guwahati, Tejpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Silchar. The Central Govt. has released a sum of Rs.462.6 million from Calamity Relief Fund for the relief operations. An addition sum of Rs. 550 million has also been released from National Calamity Relief Contingency Fund (NCCF). Ministry of Petroleum has already released 4, 00,000 liters of Kerosene Oil as additional allocation to the state of Assam. This has been sub-allocated to the districts and sub- divisions The Ministry of Health has sent a central team to the flood affected areas of Assam to advise the State on the actions to be taken and prevent outbreak of epidemics. National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), National Vector Borne
Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and the Regional Directors for Health & Family Welfare at Patna and Guwahati are on high alert to check outbreak of any disease in it s early stage. An inter ministerial team has been constituted by Government of India, which would carry out damage assessment in Assam. At the request of the Govt. of Assam to Govt. of India, a team of four Communication Specialists along with 4 satellite phones, eight Wireless in Local Loop (WLL) from Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have been deployed in the affected areas. 22 HF and 44 VHF sets establishing communication network in the marooned areas. The team has 4 INMARSAT (Satellite) phones sets and 10 very high frequency sets with a connection radius of 10 Kms. The satellite phones have been installed at the Chief Secretary s office, and the in the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office of Nalbari and Berpetta. The VHF sets have been equally deployed in the districts of Barpeta and Nalbari. Ministry of Defence has been requested by the Central Govt. to set up two bailley bridges as per the sites requested by the state government. STATE LEVEL: The Chief Minister has made an aerial survey for reviewing the flood situation. The State Government has issued guidelines to all districts for taking up Search & Rescue and Relief measures in war footing. Senior officials have been assigned to carry forward the operation in a smoother way. Arrangements are on, for the procurement of food grains, medicines, bleaching powder, cattle fodder, and water purifying tablets, ORS, boats and vehicles from neighboring states. The State Govt. had requested the GOI for 5 million halogen tablets; 5 million ORS pouches; 500 MTs of DDT and 200 MTs of bleaching powder. Rs. 500 million has been released from state funds for carrying out the flood relief & rehabilitation work in the state. Gratuitous relief distribution : Rice-224323.19 quintals, Dal-18365.58 Quintals, Salt-7907.07 quintals, Bread 50,000 packets, Jaggery 120 Quintals, Biscuits 0.1 million packets and Chira- 665 Quintals Department of Food has been advised by the state government to expedite movement of stock to different states in North Eastern region. The state government has requested the Railways for allotment of additional rakes of essential commodities, due to snapping of road communication at several places as well to reschedule some passenger trains and facilitates movements of the goods train. The government is monitoring the overall flood situation and coordinating with the neighboring states. Additional amount has been sanctioned for distribution of relief materials like food stuff, drinking water, medicine, fodder, veterinary care to the cattle population. All district administration has taken steps for relief and rescue operation in war footing. The officials of all line departments have been asked to assist the district administration in the relief and rescue operations. District Authorities have been asked to provide Nutritional support to children on need basis. Roads restoration work is in progress. The NH-31 is being restored by setting up of a bailey bridge at Rangiya. Mobilization of materials, machinery and manpower for the road restoration work is on. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE: Govt. of India-UNDP, NDRM programme staff based at district and state head quarters is assisting the state and district administration in coordination of the relief operations. The Royal Danish Embassy has extended a support to the tune of Rs. 2.3 million through Tezpur Mahila Samiti a local NGO, for carrying out relief operations in Sonitpur district. OXFAM has conducted a rapid assessment in flood affected areas of Assam and is supporting 8,500 family kits (that includes shelter material, hygiene packages and food) to the flood affected victims as immediate relief response. UNICEF has supported to the Government with 700,000 halogen tablets, 12 Metric Tonnes (MT) of Ferric Alum, 5 MT of bleaching powder and 5 MT of Lime, and 760,000 Oral Dehydration Salt sachets as a part of prepositioning of supplies through on-going programmes. With a request from the State government, it is also supplying an additional quantity of 1 million halogen tablets and 500,000 Oral Dehydration Salts sachets. UNICEF staff members are also in close touch with officers of the Government of Assam and are also monitoring the situation closely. Another 1.89 million halogen tablets are en route to Guwahati by air and will be handed over to the Director of Health Services, Government of Assam in response to a request as a part of on-going programmes of UNICEF. 1.1 Million Oral Dehydration Salt sachets are in the process of procurement and they will be transported to Guwahati from Saturday (24 July) onwards in batches, in response to a request from the Government of Assam. An additional quantity of 9 MT of bleaching powder is also being procured for ensuring the provision of safe drinking water in floodaffected areas. Apart from the provision of additional supplies requested by the Government, UNICEF has initiated the formation of WATSAN groups for relief support in flood shelters in Assam in 10 districts. The Indian Red Cross Society, Assam branch has mobilized relief worth Rs. 0.5 Million till date consisting of 300 blankets, 200 mosquito nets, beaten rice, jaggery, milk powder, utensils, salt and pulses. In addition they have provided 500 family packets with clothing and basic utensils to the affected people. Christian Aid India through CASA has extended assistance of dry rations, plastic sheets, clothing, blankets and sanitary articles in 4 districts of Assam (Barpeta, Nalbari, Nagaon and Morigaon). Caritas- India has donated Rs. 2.00 million for the relief activities (food, Medical Assistance and shelter) in Bihar and Assam.
Dan Church Aid through CASA has distributed dry food items, clothes, plastic sheets, household utensils and sanitation items in 125 villages from the district of Nalbari, Barpeta, Nagaon and Morigaon MSF is working in Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts and they have made a preliminary assessment of the Medical needs, water and sanitation in the area and have extended medical services. World Vision India has provided Rice, lentil, oil, and medical assistance to 6000 families and Tarpaulin to 3500 families in Dhemaji, Udlagri and Kamrup District of Assam. CURRENT NEEDS: Trained personnels are required in the districts of Goalpara, Cachar and Morigaon for rescue operation. The State Government has requested the Central Government to provide Satellite Phones, rubber boats, 6 Bailley bridges, food items, Medical aid (halogen and ORS tablets), 0.6 million polythene sheets, bleaching powder, tents and other essential items such as candles and matches. The state PWD roads which have been damaged at different places need immediate bridging. CHANNEL FOR DELIVERY & CONTACT DETAILS: State Control Room: 91-361-2230982 / 2268691 / 2264847 / 2268600 (Telephone) 2226480 (Fax) Sat phone : 7639445668 Satellite phone details : Chief Secretary s Office:7639445664 Nalbari dist. Administration :7639445660 Barpeta dist. Administration 7639445672 Relief Commissioner s Office : 91-361 2262898 (Telephone) 91-361 2261901(Fax) Detail of Airport facilities available: There are six airports located at Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Tejpur, Jorhat, Silchar & Lilabari in the state SOURCE OF INFORMATION: Relief Commissioners office UNDP Assam Team Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Central Water Commission (CWC) Maps of India