Flood Situation In Orissa 20th Sept 2008

REPORT ON FLOOD SITUATION IN ORISSA Assessment Date & Time: 20th September 2008 up to 2 pm Context: The horror is continuing since last 6 days. The havoc of flood has imperiled the lives of people in almost all coastal districts of the state. The endangering situation gripped Orissa claiming 20 lives in different affected districts so far. Mahanadi is swelling menacingly and began to submerge vast tracts of coastal areas carrying overwhelming 15.81 lakh cusec water at Munduli barrage. More than 15 lakh people have been affected and over half a million of people evacuated to safer places till now as Mahanadi is surpassing more and more flood water to its tributaries with an alarming speed. The devastation has expanded its fury to 16 districts of Orissa and affected 5000 villages of 78 blocks. Four coastal districts, namely, 1. Kendrapara, 2. Jagatsinghpur, 3. Cuttack and 4. Puri are in the valley of panic where the situation is untold. The other 12 districts disrupted from main stream of life are: 5.

Bhadrak

6.

Jajpur

7.

Keonjhar

8.

Gajapati

9.

Nayagarh

10.

Sambalpur

11.

Balasore

12.

Bolangir

13.

Boudh

14.

Sonepur

15.

Kalahandi

16.

Rayagada

It has apprehended that a major flood is going to make the panic in aforesaid 4 coastal districts of Orissa as a huge volume of water is heading down-streams in Mahanadi system. It is estimated that nearly 16 lakh cusec of water would pass through the Mahanadi near Cuttack by next 12 hours which indicates that vast areas in the districts will be submerged by this uncontrolled water flow. Present Alarming Situation: The water level at Hirakud has reached the full reservoir level of 630 feet which has forced the authorities to open 40 gates to release floodwater. As the result, 15.81 lakh cusec water at Munduli barrage is being surpassed and it is expected that around 9 lakh cusec uncontrolled water will be released at Naraj. The state Disaster Management Department said one lakh fifty thousand people were evacuated and many others have taken shelter in hillocks and school and office buildings. 40 of the 64 sluice gates of Hirakud dam on the river were opened to discharge excess inflow.

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The Major Areas of Grave Concern: Cuttack - Mahanadi is flowing over the danger level at Naraj, while its branch river Kathjodi is also flowing over the danger mark at Bellevue gauge station near Cuttack. Lakhs of people have been marooned in Banki and Athgarh areas of Cuttack district. Road communication between Cuttack and Banki has been snapped due to a breach. Thousands of people fled their homes to safer places in most areas of the district to save their lives. Around 7 blocks of the district including Banki, Athagarh and Narasinghpur have been highly affected where people of 78 GPs and 255 villages are suffering very acute difficulties. Due to overwhelming water surpassing from Mahanadi there has been disruptions in the way of Cuttack to Sambalpur. 42mauja of the region have completely been detached from other parts of the district. As per the present assumption, there are more than 15 thousand people marooned in the locality of Cuttack Sadar. 5000 households are in panic because of the breakage in gheribandh at Kantapada block. River Devi and Kandal are above the danger signal of 2 feet which threatening the lives in Niali block and made number of villages away from mainstream of communication. Jajpur - Nearly 2.8 lakh people of 387 villages under 89 GPs of 8 blocks in Jajpur district have been affected by the flood. At many places road communication has been snapped as flood water of Baitarani, Brahmani, Birupa and Genguti flows severely. Particularly 30 villages of Barchana block have been highly disrupted. Flood water from Brahmani and Baitarani has entered many villages in Korei, Dasarathpur and Bari block. Over 50 thousand people of 100 villages in these blocks have been marooned so far. Kendrapara - Surging water in the river, namely, Brahmani, Luna, Govari, Birupa, Chitrotpala, Paika, Kani, Baitarani and Kharasrota have been inundated large areas in 7 blocks of the district, namely, Rajkanika, Rajnagar, Marsaghai, Mahakalpara, Pattamundai, Aul and Garadapur. All the above mentioned rivers flowing at the maximum point of 4 feet high from danger. Around 8000 people in 14 villages of Mahakalpara block are marooned in the water circle and above 2000 people have taken shelter at some safer places in Patkura block. Jagatsinghpur - Life is in danger at almost all parts of Jagatsinghpur district and the situation is worsening from time to time as the surging water of rivers like; Devi, Kandal and Biluakhai are swelling menacingly. The water flow is very furious at the point of Alipingal which has been measured at 12.62 crossing the danger point at 11.76. The most sensitive point of devastation is at Daleighai, where water flows at a height of 61.60 crossing the danger mark of 57 feet. Most part of the Machhagaon and Balikuda areas are also submerged in flood water. Puri - The situation in almost all parts of Puri district has become a grave concern on survival of human life. The major rivers of the district like; Kushabhadra, Bhargavi, Daya, Dhanua, Kuakhai, Rajua, Makara and Prachi are flowing severely after crossing the level of danger point. Balianta, Balipatna, Nimapara, Gop, Astarang, Kakatpur, Pipili, Kanas and Delanga areas are highly submerged by the water flow of the rivers. Nayagarh - The swollen Mahanadi has inundated 150 villages mostly in Gania, Khandapada and Bhapur blocks. People have taken shelter in nearby schools, temples and other safer places to save their family. Around 20000 domestic animals have been away from their respective locality. The entire 25 km stretch along the Mahanadi from Rasanga to Chhamundia has been flooded marooning 30 villages. Road connection between Gania and Chhamundia has been snapped as 7 feet water flowing on the road. Kantilo has been cut off from all sides of communication. Apart from this, vast stretches of agricultural land in Gania, Khandapara and Bhapur blocks have been submerged.

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Sonepur - As per the latest information received from the district, the flood situation has affected 6 blocks and 3 urban pockets of the district. Total 5500 population from 234 villages in 38 Gram Panchayats severely affected. Total 6608 numbers of houses damaged where 778 houses fully, 3741 houses marginally and 2089 houses partly damaged. 15000 hector of crop area affected in the flood. Shelter camps are opening in different areas of the district. Some of them are as below: Tarbha Block Sonepur Block Ulunda Block B.M.Pur Block

: : : :

Tarbha, Menda and Kansira Sonepur Municipality Ulunda Birmaharajpur and Subalaya

As per the information received at this end, Boudh district has been cut off from rest part of the state and many places in southern districts of Gajapati, Bolangir, Kalahandi and Rayagada has been out of bounds as flood water from local rivers submerged almost all means of communications. Sambalpur town has also been submerged by water discharged from Hirakud dam and vested people to live in incommunicable surroundings. Visualizing these dreaded situations there is an imperative need of interventions to save the victims at large. Consolidated figures of the Havoc (as on 20.9.2007 up to 2 pm ):
No. of Districts – 16
No. of Blocks – 78
No. of Villages – 2700
No. of death case – 20
No. of people affected – 16 lakhs
No. of people evacuated – 50 thousand
Loss of agricultural crops – 40 thousand hectare
No. of household damages – 6417
No. of livestock loss - 3000 Comparison: All eyes are now centered on massive release of water in the Mahanadi river system. 16.20 lakh cuses water at Muduli and 15.81 lakh cusec water flowing has erased all the past records which was highest in 1982. The projected magnitude of water release will certainly hit Munduli in Cuttack district which drags the attention back to the catastrophe seen of past years:


In 1982, when the state faced its worst flood, the quantity of water discharge was 15.84 Cusec.




In the year 2001, it was 14.00 Cusec




In the year 2003, water release was 13.05 Cusec

According to the comparison above, it is assumed that similar situation in 1982 or more than that likely to be happened in these 4 districts as Government has estimated to 16 lakh cusec release of water. An Overview of Flood Affected Districts: Flood havoc has swiped away many villages and number of households mostly in 4 coastal district along with Gajapati, Bolangir, Boudh and Rayagada in southern region. Not only the force of Mahanadi is threatened to get out of control but other rivers like; Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Bansadhara has already crossed the danger level at their existence. As far information received from different source by this time the situation is analyzed as follows:

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Sl. No .

District

Block

GP

Rajnagar

4 GPs viz; Kandira, Satabhaiya, Rangani & Gupti 2 GPs viz; Jayanagar & Baradia 4 GPs viz; Batighara, Kharinashi, Baulakani & Ramanagar

Rajkanika

1.

KENDRAPARA

Mahakalpara

Marshaghai Pattamundai Aul Garadapur Binjharpur Bari Korei

2.

JAJPUR

Badachana

Dharmasala

Rasulpur

3.

BHADRAK

4.

BALASORE

Bhandaripokh ari Dhamnagar Tihidi Basudevpur Basta

Bahanaga Erasama

5.

JAGATSINGHP UR

Kapila 29 11 GPs viz; Asanajhar, Ranpur, Gaurpur, Barundai, Amrutia, Mukundpur, Karda, Goleipur, Badabirua, Panikoili & Khamana 2 GPs viz; Mahisara & Samparu 2 GPs viz; Neulpur, Mahisara & Harirajpur 1 GP i.e. Odisho 8 26 8 10 2 GPs viz. Ganagadhar pur, Sadanandpu r Aruabad 9 – Dhinkia, Nuagaon, Gadakujang a, Kunjakothi, Japa, Ambiki, Gadabishun

No. of Villag e Affect ed 20

Population Affected & Evacuated

Total Death Case in the Dist.

Total

2

372 villages of 39 GPs scattered in these 7 blocks

6

6 blocks and 18 GPs have been affected

10000/ 4935

2

17

9

8000/2000

2508/

10

82

12,500/

310 90 72 7

2845/ 3150/ 3675/

3

1 3

4

172 villages expected to be submerged . 86 Power Boats & 125 County Boats are

4

Sl. No .

District

Block

Kujanga

Mahanga

Tirtola

Raghunathpu r

Sadar Niali

6.

CUTTACK

TangiChoudwar

7.

8.

9. 10. 11.

RAYAGADA

BOUDH

KEONJHAR SAMBALPUR

Salepur Gudari Gunupur Boudh NAC

Harbhanga Kantamala Puruna Cuttack Hatadihi Urban Kashinagar

GAJAPATI 12. PURI

GP

pur, Gadaharishp ur & Padmapur 4 – Bagadia, Fatepur, Gandakipur & Nuagarh Kothi 3 – Haladia, Paikarapur, Pomamarai 7– Gopalpur, Bainal, Kanimul, Bisanpur, Kolar, Samantarap ur, Korgagadei Babujangha, Manijangha, Mahammad & Uttarkula

No. of Villag e Affect ed

Population Affected & Evacuated

Total Death Case in the Dist.

Total

/2000 evacuated in use to rescue the people. Still there is need of rescue operation.

9

12

3 8– Baharana, Nibharana, Pokharigaon , Binishpur, Krushnapras ad, Bilasuni, Anlo & Jalarpur 4 – Salgaon, Nakhara, Harianta & Agrahat Rameswar

28

1

Khaliabagich a, Irrigation Colony

Krushnamoh anpur 2

3– Khandwa, Godra & Baribandha

6

/900 evacuated 9000/1000 3500/1500

-

Balianta, Balipatna, Nimapara,

5

Sl. No .

District

13. NAYAGARH

Block

Gop, Astarang, Kakatpur, Pipili, Kanas, Delang Gania, Kantilo, Bhapur and Khandapada

GP

No. of Villag e Affect ed

Population Affected & Evacuated

Total Death Case in the Dist.

Total

150

* Some fields are blank due to non-availability of information. This time, flood has so far affected 16 districts of the state, namely, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Boudh, Sambalpur, Gajapati and Rayagada. Current Situation of Affected Areas: Lives of people are very miserable and the victims are battling for survival. Evacuation of people living in low-lying areas has been carried out by the Government, still a large number of people yet to be evacuated as all the roads and other ways has been disrupted to access them. Food & Clothing: Relief provided by the government is not reaching at every point of the affected regions. Somewhere the quantity of food and cloth is scarcely available. People are hungry since last 6 days. Particularly the children in most of the affected areas are suffering from acute hunger. Clothes and other materials at the shelter are not being adequate to the people. Education: Number of school buildings have been collapsed and lot of other infrastructures lost due to the havoc. All schools in the above regions have been closed since last 3 days and the teachers have been ordered to help in relief and rescue operation. Health: People, particularly the children are suffering from diarrhea, fever and other waterborne diseases during these days due to water pollution. Safe drinking water is nowhere available. Almost all water sources are submerged. People are using the flood water without any scope to purify. Health care service provided by the Government is not being adequate to serve all the affected people. Agriculture & Livestock: In most of the above regions agricultural crops have been fully damaged which has broken economical backbone of the people. The lives of domestic animals and other livestock are very miserable to see from back and forth. Number of animals have lost their lives and some who survived are still in the water circle as all the routes to come out has been disconnected. Immediate Need of Interventions:
Provision of sufficient food and cloth
Provision of safe drinking water
Provision of materials for establishment of temporary shelters
Provision of basic Health Care Service to eradicate flood-raised diseases
Provision of financial assistance for reconstruction of their damaged houses. Source of Information: 1. OSDMA & SRC, Govt. of Orissa 2. District level Emergency Officers 3. Field functionaries of BISWA

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