Orissa Flood Report 1stOct2008

8/14/2019 Orissa Flood Report 1stOct2008

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REPORT ONFLOOD DEVASTATION IN ORISSA

[Assessment Date & Time: 1st October 2008 up to 2 p.m.]

An Overview:Fury of flood has cruelly broken the socio economic backbone of people in Orissa. Peoplehave lost their habitations, livelihoods, livestock, properties, agricultures and mosttragically lives of their family members. Some areas, where flood was ruling for afortnight, look like fields of cremation at present. The surrounding of the villages is notyet conducive to start the living hood afresh. Still people are engaged in restructuringtheir damaged dwellings.

The flood came and went, leaving behind lakhs of people in uncertainty, penury andagony. It has been more than a week since the flood water started receding but multiplesufferings magnified the misery of victims. Many people still continuing to live at highlands and living scattered lives. Some habitations are surrounded by water till date. Thosewho returned after undergoing a session of tragedy are fully puzzled about the existenceof their dwelling houses as the look and size of their villages has completely been ravaged.Most of the victims are unable to identify their dwellings which they or their previousgeneration had built. The silent cries for food, water and shelter by the luckless villagers

has covered the entire scenario.


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Even after 9 days of flood havoc, unsettled living is still attached with the people fillingtheir lives with misery. 1,69,108 dwelling houses have completely been demolished. Asper the government computing, number of death cases has reached at 73. Detriments areinestimable in total 19 districts where flood had marked its presence. This megadevastation has made 1.70 lakh families shelter less those who were leading acomfortable life in 6481 villages and 27 urban sectors under 1603 GPs and 137 blocks.

Roads are not yet in the standard to start the traffic and many areas still remained cut offfrom mainstream of connectivity. One can just imagine the fury of flood through thismassive damage to roads. The ravages are also apparent through extensive damages ofcrops in agricultural fields adjacent to river banks. As per preliminary assessment ofAgriculture Department report says that near about 4,62,532 hectares of paddy fields havebeen sand covered.

Watery scenario is nomore visible but plightof mass is furtherseems to be grim. Manyareas in Kendrapara,Jagatsinghpur, Puri andCuttack district hasremained inaccessibletill date due tooccurrence of breachesin roads andembankments. Reliefcenters opened bygovernment arecontributing a lot butturned to be

insufficient as the requirement is high. Even relief provision of government is un-reachedand quite uneven in some villages where hunger and thirst ruling over. Neither stomachfull diet available anywhere nor a glass of safe drinking water. Difficulties of peopleparticularly of children are untold and unseen. There seems to be no end of problems forthe people after suffering a lot as another threat of epidemics has emerged subsequentlyin some affected villages which turned the situation worse.

Events at Flash:Relief and restoration is the talk of the day. The Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Pattnaik is on aseries of move to the affected areas to assess the flood damages and sufferings of people.Yesterday, Mr. Pattnaik visited Kantapada of Boudh district, Tigiria in Cuttack district andMarsaghai of Kendrapara district where people narrated their tale of woes to the CM.

Victimized people vividly described the hardship they underwent and how nobody wasbothered to save them from danger. They made open allegations against the districtadministrations that the authorities never appeared in the villages during the time offlood but today they are showing their activeness only because of your presence.

After the panic of flood people have started the fear of crocodile attack in some parts ofKendrapara district. It has apprehended that during the time of flood few crocodiles wereentered into the local rivers leaving their permanent place of living. Report says that 5persons have got some injury caused by attack of crocodiles and being treated at localhospitals.

Now, people facing lot of difficulties in making food arrangements for them which theyfound more horrible than the attack of crocodile. Most of the areas are lack in safe waterto cook with. All necessary elements like; ration, vegetables and most importantly fuel tostart the cooking has been precious to them. Taking the advantage of the situation, few


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unscrupulous businessmen have started their monopoly in rating their commodities. Thishigh price of daily requiring consumables is also being felt by the people in other non-affected areas where business-people are showing a plea of less transportation of goods tothe state hindered by road disruptions.

Numbers of victims are still present at major road sides and at highlands. Massive reliefand reconstruction operations are being carried out by government and non-government

agencies. But people are not getting the use of it properly. Most of the materials aredropped amidst the flood water so lots of people are in lack of even polythene to savethem of rain. Further, relief centers are opened by different agencies exclusively not toprovide basic needs to the victims rather to earn some cheap publicity for theirorganization to be highlighted.

BISWA in Action:In order to lessen the sufferings of people BISWA has started its support service in shape ofproviding relief materials in different affected parts of the state. Being sensitized over theplight of people, BISWA, in its endeavor, started its relief operations in collaboration withdistrict administrations by utilizing its limited resources.

BISWA is in move to undertakerelief activities like; supplyingcooked food, dry food, life-savingmedicines, ORS, drinking waterpouch, halogen tablets andbleaching powder to the people indistress. 2 villages, namely, Anteiand Bailo under Marshaghai block ofKendrapara district has been servedby BISWA where more than 1000people are taking the service of

volunteers. In Cuttack district, 7volunteers of BISWA having localpresence at Banki are engaged inrelief operation of government. Numbers of volunteers of BISWA are also continuing withrelief operation in Tirtol, Kujanga, Raghunathpur and 22mauza of Jagatsinghpur district.The District Coordinator of BISWA in Puri district along with his team is engaged in reliefoperation at Balanga, where people are in acute difficulties.

Moreover, BISWA management has made a decision to contribute one day salary of all itsstaff members as donation to carry out relief and resettlement operation. BISWA is alsoplanning for a long-term strategy for undertaking restoration and rehabilitation activitiesin consultation with government and other partner NGOs.

Condolence of BISWA:The fury of flood has taken away Nikhil, for ever, who was the only son to his parents.While passing through a canal way the heavy flow of water swept away Nikhil not to beappeared again. The heart-breaking tragedy of Nikhils parent was made BISWA deeplyregretted for which all the members in a condolence meeting hold 2 minutes silence prayfor peace of pious soul at heaven. It is noteworthy that Nikhils mother happens to be astaff member of BISWA.

Interventions of Government:With the possibility of epidemic looming large after the receding of flood water,

Government has geared up its machineries to tackle the menace. After a session oftragedy now the time has come for the people to restructure their dwellings andcommunications. Sensitizing the situation well, Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Pattnaik hastaken some timely and needful actions to provide all sorts facilities to the people in


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distress. The focus now is on health sector and reconstruction works in 19 affecteddistricts. In a review meeting at Secretariat yesterday, Mr. Pattnaik has asked toconstitute a team to assess the damages caused by flood and given strict instruction to thedistrict level authorities to submit complete destruction report within a period of 15 days.He also asked different engineering departments to complete all restoration works within45 days of time. Further, the CM has decided to continue the relief services for another 15days for which an amount of Rs.46 crore has been sanctioned from State Relief Fund.

In order to continue the relief service uninterruptedly, Mr. Naveen Pattnaik has also takena decision to restrict the leave provision of employees during the period of Dushera. Hehas passed order to all the departments to allow leave of employees on roster basis.Moreover, state government has passed a unique order to issue A/c payee cheques to thevictims who have lost their residence in this devastation. Government has been releasinghouse-building finance as Rs.25,000/- for complete damage, Rs.10,000/- for partlydamaged under Mo Kudia scheme.

Government record saysthat there has been adistribution of 73,065 m.t.rice; 11,482 qtl. chuda;11,454 qtl. molasses; 1640m.t. cattle feed; 6,842polythene sheets tonumber of victims in shapeof relief materials. Around60,000 packed foodsserved through aerialdistribution. 535 freekitchens have been openedby the government to meet

the requirement of peoplealong with 422 medical

teams deployed in 91 temporary health centers to provide health care services. Besides,government has supplied 2,31,925 ORS packets, 43 lakh halogen tablets, 47000 waterpouches and 2,164 packets of bleaching powders till date. Notwithstanding sincere effortof government in providing huge relief materials people are in hunger and struggling fortheir survival. Relief services yet to reach many affected areas. Demand is high and supplyis less where relief is available.

Major Areas of Grave Concern:Assessment is going on. The exact number of total destruction is yet to come.Nevertheless, the compounding figure till date has shown a shocking size of devastation.

The fury of flood has occupied number of lives and livestock which has not been possibleat the aftermath to compute properly.

The death number has been increased to 73where it has reported the highest number of15 deaths in both Cuttack and Kendraparadistrict. Following the countdown, the deathfigures has come as reported for differentdistricts where havoc of flood was quitehorrible:

8 death cases in Puri 7 death cases in Jajpur 4 death cases in Kalahandi


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4 death cases in Bhadrak 3 death cases in Nayagarh 3 death cases in Bolangir 3 death cases in Angul 2 death cases in Jagatsinghpur 2 death cases in Khurda One each in Sambalpur and

Keonjhar district.

Apart from the above reported figures, morenumber of deaths has occurred in the state which constitutes the total number of 73.

As per the recent information obtained from government source the following numbers ofvillages in mentioned districts are highly ravaged by the massive flow of flood water.

820 villages in 14 blocks of Cuttack

518 villages in 9 blocks of Kendrapara 188 villages in 8 blocks of Jagatsinghpur 470 villages in 10 blocks of Jajpur 883 villages in 10 blocks of PuriInformation revealed that crop and agriculture has been highly ruined in different areas ofdevastation. As far assessment has come, the crop loss in Kendrapara district is the highestin the state compounding a loss of 97,287 hectares. The demolished paddy fields in otherdistricts are as follows:

80,162 hectares in Cuttack district

77,447 hectares in Puri district51,652 hectares in Jajpur district

30,820 hectares in Jagatsinghpurdistrict

29,681 hectares in Khurda district

30,000 hectares in Bhadrak

18,594 hectares in Bolangir

16,015 hectares in Kalahandi

15,000 hectares in Sonepur

11,000 hectares in Bargarh

Government report says that nearly4.78 lakh hectares paddy fields have

been damaged and assessment in other affected regions is in process to get the exactfigure of demolition.

As per the information revealed till date, there has been number of breaches in differentdistricts caused disruption in major links of communication. The highest breaches occurredin the following districts which disordered the life-style of people at large:

43 in Cuttack district 17 in Puri district 16 in Khurda district


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12 in Jagatsinghpur district 11 in Kendrapara district More shockingly 227 in Kalahandi district Followed by Bargarh district comprising of 124 breachesHaving a view to the aftermath condition of flood, it is apprehended that sufferings of

people and the worsening situation is likely to continue until end of October becausepolluted water-sanitation condition and presence of epidemic is yet to play its havoc. Theareas where tragedy is rampant and relief and resettlement activities are clearly apparentare as follows:

Cuttack In 2 NAC and 2 municipalities 42 wards have been affected. Human casualtyrecorded at 15 whereas cattle lost stands at 21 when at the same time 80190 cattle havebeen affected. More than 22765 houses are ruined and 80162 hectares crop fields havebeen demolished. Total 109 numbers of villages are still under the water circle. Primeroad connectivity has been cut-off atAthagarh-Narasinghpur, Cuttack-Banki andNiali-Kantapada. 43 roads are breached

and 13 embankments are breached. 30relief camps opened and 78861 peoplebeing accommodated there. 125 freekitchen camps organized in district. 31medical teams deployed and 6 cattlecamps opened for 2209 cattle.

Cuttack district saw the worst deluge indecades. About 8.79 lakh people have losttheir resources in 14 blocks. Along withBanki, Athagarh, Nischintakoili and

Choudwar still cut off from rest part of thedistrict. Road communication betweenCuttack and Banki has been snapped due toa big breach. Thousands of people havetaken shelter mostly at schools, roofs ofhigh stored buildings and temples. 42maujaof the district is starting to be connectedwith other parts.

Kendrapara Kendrapara Municipality andPattamundai NAC has been affected undermajor ULBs where 40 wards are affected.

11 breaches occurred on roads and 7breaches occurred at embankments. 128villages are marooned so far. Crop areaaffected 97287 hectares. 73202 peopleevacuated to safer places. 65 free kitchencenters are opened and Rs.150 lakh hasbeen provided by the Government toprovide relief operation. 75 medical teamsare deployed and 21 medical relief centersare opened.

Communication links to Kendrapara havebeen almost snapped since long. Almost allthe blocks are cut off for which the reliefteams found it hard to reach the flood-


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hits. The district has witnessed 2 high breaches on Luna and Paika and another breach atChitroptala. Over 5.72 lakh people have been affected in Kendrapara while only 72,202were evacuated till yesterday.

Jagatsinghpur Population marooned so far is 76,760 in 121 villages. Human casualty is 2.Cattle affected 25,250 and crop area submerged 30,820 hectares. House damaged more than 65, 11 embankment

breaches have occurred in Tirtol,Kujanga and Biridi blocks respectivelyand 4 road communicationsdisconnected. Rs.55 lakh have beenprovided by the Government. 44relief camps opened where 38579persons accommodated. 21 cattlecamps opened. 16 free kitchen campsopened and 9 medical teams havebeen deployed. Till now, life is indanger at almost all parts ofJagatsinghpur district and thesituation is still disturbed.

Jajpur Even three days after the rains wreaked havoc, flood situation in the district stillassumed alarming proportions today. In 2 ULBs 43 wards have been severely affectedwhere human casualty has reached at 7. Crop areas of 46486 hectares have been affectedhighly. Breaches occurred at Naranpur in Baitarani river, Nimapatna in Kharasrota,Palatpur in Kelua river and Rampur in Nuanai river. 10 free kitchen centres have beenarranged by the district administration for 4200 people.

Puri Puri district has been emerged as one of the most affected districts in the deltaicregion. Puri along with Khruda witnessed a grim situation as Daya, Bhargavi and

Kushabhadra has flooded vast areas of habitation. The NH-203, at Pipili, has been severelyaffected followed by a breach in Bhargavi. Similar situation has been occurred at Pipili-Nimapara road. Konark, Gop, Sakhigopal, Kanas and Delang blocks are seriously affectedby the fury of flood.

8 human casualties have been reported in the district. 56 numbers of villages aremarooned so far. Crop areas affected 46514 hectares. 5 breaches occurred in thedistrict. 11 road communications including 203 NH have been disrupted. 133 m. ton cattlefeed supplied. 6 free kitchen centers have been opened for 13725 people. Emergencyreliefs with life saving medicine are being provided by the Government.

Nayagarh Human casualty has been reported at 3 in the district. 7 free kitchen centers

are opened for 9342 people. 17 medical teams have been deployed. Cattle affected 36828and 58 livestock lost. House damaged 3168. Crop area affected 5486 hectares. Roadbreached 6 and 3 embankment breached. 4 cattle centers also opened with 34160 cattle.

17 relief camps opened where20,000 people have taken shelter.Rs. 10 lakh have been provided toDist. Administration by stategovernment for relief distribution.

Though the flood situation in 3blocks of Gania, Bhapur andKhandapara has eased sinceyesterday because of thedecreasing water level ofMahanadi, still the affected areas


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are having a lot of worries. Over 34,000 people of these blocks have been severelyaffected and 95 villages are still suffering. As many as 1,000 houses have collapsed inChhamundia, Rasang, Belpada GPs. Cases of fever and diarrhea have started to berevealed in Bhapur block.

Present Situation of Affected Areas:Lives of people are very miserable and the victims are battling for survival. Resettlement

of people living in high lands and safer places has been carried out by the Government,still a large number of people yet to be settled as all the roads and other ways has beendisrupted 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 andthirsty since long. Particularly the children in most of the affected areas are sufferingfrom acute hunger. Clothes and other materials at the shelter are not being adequate tothe people.

Health:People, particularly the children are sufferingfrom diarrhea, fever and other waterbornediseases during these days due to waterpollution. Safe drinking water is nowhereavailable. Almost all water sources aresubmerged. People are using the flood waterwithout any scope to purify. Health care serviceprovided by the Government is not beingadequate to serve all the affected people.

Agriculture & Livestock:

In most of the above regions agricultural cropshave been fully damaged which has brokeneconomical backbone of the people. The lives ofdomestic animals and other livestock are verymiserable to see from back and forth. Numberof animals have lost their lives and some whosurvived are still in the water circle as all theroutes to come out has been disconnected.

Education:All schools and colleges in the affected districtsare not yet opened. Number of school buildings

have been collapsed and lot of otherinfrastructures lost due to the havoc. Theteachers and other staff members have beendeputed to help the people in relief and rescueoperation.

Immediate Need of Support Service: Material support:Dry ration, Medicines, candles & matchbox,torch & batteries, utensils, tarpaulin, feedingbottles, buckets, ropes, bedsheets with all kindof usable clothing & footwear.Logistic support: Transport support to reach the material to

effected areas


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Space for collection centers Facilities for local pickups Transportation of material from different

cities .Basic Need Support: Rice, Chiwra, biscuits, packed eatables Water purifier tablets Basic medicines Sarees and children clothing Tarpaulins or thick polythene Bed sheets Export surplus/ Cotton cloth for making sanitary napkins Mosquito nets Stoves, cooking and water storage utensils/buckets

Abstract of Devastation:

No. of districts 19

No. of blocks 137

No. of GPs - 1603

No. of villages 6481

No. of ULBs 27

No. of people affected 42,08,161

No. of death cases 73

No. of road breaches 1400

No. of embankment breaches -477

No. of roads disrupted 2895

Crops land affected 4,62,532 hectares

No. of household damages 1,69,108

No. of livestock loss - 3000

Loss of gross property Rs.2454 crores (till date)

No. of free kitchens opened by Govt. 486

Source of Information:

Different Print Medias & News Bulletins of TV Channels OSDMA & SRC, Govt. of Orissa District level Emergency Officers Field functionaries of BISWA

Documents

Orissa Flood Report 1stOct2008