Bihar Flood

SITREP 12/08/2002
NATURE OF THE DISASTER: FLOOD
Flood situation in Bihar continues to remain grim though overall the situation is under control. According to Central Water Commission Officials
the situation has showed further let up with the water level of rivers like Kosi, Kamala Balan, Budhi Gandak and Bagmati maintaining a receding
trend in the absence of rains in the catchment.areas in Nepal. So far Nepal has released a record 597,850 cusecs of water into Gandak River at
Valmikinagar near the border. The Flood Control department stated there was more than 100 mm rainfall along Gandak on Friday followed by
moderate to heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. This might pose serious threat and could lead to inundation of new areas. The release of
more water downstream after rainfall in Gandak catchments areas has increased pressure on embankments in Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, East
& West Champaran, Samastipur, Muzafarpur, and Darbhanga districts resulting fresh breaches. Populations affected are taking shelter on
embankments, railway lines and highlands. Of the 22 districts affected 9 districts are worst affected with 125 blocks namely Madhubani [19
blocks], Sitamadhi [17], Darbhanga [18], Samastipur[8], Sheohar[4], Katihar[10],Suapual[8], Araria[9],East Champaran[19] , Muzaffarpur[7],
Gopalganj [6] worst affecting 6500 villages. Total 198 Blocks are submerged and around 13.84 million population is affected. More than 13
million people are on the embankment and waiting for relief and temporary shelters. Continuous rains are creating problem for this population
who are residing on the road, high land and embankments with out any roof. State government has provided tents to around 40,000 families.
Madhubani, one of the worst floods affected district need to lay boulders to protect several villages from erosion caused by Kamla Balan River.
Floodwater have inundated fresh areas and spread to three new districts i.e. Madhepura, Khagaria and Begusarai. Flash floods occurred in
Minapur, Bhochaha and Gaighat.

AREA AFFECTED:
• Number of District: 23 (Sitamarhi, Nalanda, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Patna, Katihar, E. Champaran, W. Champaran, Sheohar, Gopalganj,
Smastipur, Madhubani, Saharsa Supaul, Shekhpura, Siwan, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Madhepura and Khagaria, Begusarai, Saran) out
of 38 districts.
• Numbers of Blocks Affected: 197
• Partially Affected G.P: 2092
• Numbers of Villages affected: 7510
• Life loss: 275[Govt. sources];
• Cattle Loss: 849
• Population affected: 14.70 million
• Houses damaged: 151622; estimated value is Rs. 622.14 million [though the houses damage assessment is not complete it is estimated
that around 102027 kucha houses and 3147 pucha houses are damaged, which shows that most of the mud houses are damaged due to
stagnation of water]
• Total Area affected: 1.78 million hac.
Districts Numbers of Blocks affected in district
Sitamarhi 17
Nalanda 9
Muzaffarpur 7
o No of villages affected: 534 i.e. 136 Gram Panchayats
o No of villages marooned: 300 [Arai, Katara, Gaighat, Bochaha, Minapur, Bandara,
Mushahari]
o Total population affected: 1.02 million
o Total agricultural land affected: 1.09 hac.[ estimated value is 70.0 million]
o Total house affected: 2426 [estimated value is 48.52 million]
o Public property damaged: 0.2 million [not the actual figure]
o Human life lost: 19
o Permanent Camps: 28 [8,230 persons]
o Relief distribution camp: 67
o Health camp: 51
o Animal Husbandry camp: 19
o Boat used: 385[private 380 + 5 army boats]
o Polythene distributed: 7,840
o Tent: 70
Darbhanga: 18
The flood situation is improving in the district.
Patna 4
East Champaran 19
Scohar: 4

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Bihar Flood
SITREP 12/08/2002
Goplalganj 8
Flood situation still remains grim and the water level is flowing above danger level.
• Blocks Affected – 8 / 14
• No of Villages affected: 300
• No.of Panchayats: 100
• No of life loss: 13
Samastipur: 8
In Samastipur under Rosera sub – division swirling flood waters have entered
Rosera jail beside fresh areas in Hasanpur Block
Madhubani: 3 Breaches in Kamla Eastern / Western and Maharji Embankments has caused 19
severe damage to Madhubani district.
• Blocks affected –19
• Panchayats Affected. 276
• Number of families affected: 50,000
• Houses damaged (amount): 3118 million [Kachha + Pucca houses]
• No of Villages affected: 796
• No of Population affected: 2.5 million
• No. of Relief Camps : 18
• Loss of Life: 5
Saharsa 1
Sekhpura 6
West Champaran 4
Supaul 8
Araria: 9
• Nine children were drowned in the swollen Kosi and three others are missing in Gaiyari
village Araria district.
Kathiar 10
IMPACT: (DAMAGE BY SECTOR)
Lifeline and critical facilities: Public Utilities: Estimated Value of damaged public properties – Rs. 544.563 million
Agriculture:
• Cropped area affected: 1.05 million hactare
• Estimated value of crop loss: 1730.50 million
• Standing crops in 2 million hectare hectares have been affected so far.
Madhubani District: Total Cultivable Area: 245,512 hactare
Total Cropped Area: 203,529 hactare
Total Crop Area Damaged: 164,698
Road And Communication:
Communication network: NH 57 has a long breach, NH 104 has breaches in 19 places and NH 77 has breaches in 40 places. Till date there is
no communication to Sitamarhi. Each district has some marooned blocks. Helicopters are used for relief and rescue activities in three districts
namely Madhubani, Samastipur and Gopalganj. Heavy loss in road network especially in north Bihar due to frequent flood, which has affected
the relief work. 3,883 country boats are being used for evacuation and relief distribution. Road, power and communication infrastructure has
become dysfunctional in Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districts. In some places the road communication has been restored. More
breaches are expected on the existing embankments in the coming month due to continuous rain
• Communication was disrupted but has now been restored for light vehicles in Darbhanga District
• Telecommunication has been affected in (Madhubani district – two blocks).
• Jhanjarjpur in Madhubani district had been cut off from the district for many days. Flood has damaged NH 104; NH – 57 and NH - 105
• Telecommunication network: Telephones are working in all areas, where as the VHFs are also used in the relief operation.
• Arai and Katara are cut off from the district headquarter in Muzafarpur district. NH – 77 has a big breach for 3 km and state highway
have more than 40 breaches, which hampered the road communication.
• Train services under Samastipur – Darbhanga section has been restricted as tracks were damaged by the floodwater.
Health Facilities:
There are reported increase in the number of diarrhea, kala azar cases and many cases of snakebite in the flood affected districts. Some of the
health infrastructures are damaged. Some of the PHCs require live saving drugs like ORS, Anti snake venom, Anti rabies, Drugs for fever,
cough and cold etc. as reported by DMs. Now around 462 health centers and 259 veterinary centers are operating.

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DM Gopalganj has reported that medicines are not in scarcity but doctors are not reporting at all and out of 30 doctors posted only 13 are
available now. Medicines are adequate and also funds. Apprehension of eye flu and diarrhea in the affected areas cannot be ruled out in
weeks time.
DM Madhubani has asked for an essential supply of medicines for Conjunctivitis, Diarrhea and Snakebites, which has been reported in large
nos. to the district office. Fear of an epidemic outbreak cannot be ruled at this stage when people are staying in unhygienic conditions at the
relief camps and once water stars receding health problems may arise. 25 PHC are functioning now
Diarrhea cases are seen in Muzafferpur. The requirement is ORS, Anti snake venom, Anti rabies, Drugs for fever, cough and cold, etc. as per
the state control room.
Shelter: The shelter situation might deteriorate once monsoon rains start as the houses will collapse due to weakened foundation. There is very
little flood proofing in the structures.
House damage: Till date 98411 individual houses have been damaged as per the SRC report the estimated value of damaged house is Rs.
346.5 million and the value of public properties Rs 247.5 million, more mud house damage report is expected from districts after the receding of
the water.
PROJECTED EVOLUTION/SECONDARY THREATS:
• Temporary shelters are required to provide roof to the 0.26 million families evacuees. Sanitation will be major problem for these areas
as all people are residing on the road and embankments. Temporary toilet is required to keep the environment clean, which will help
in controlling the spread of epidemic.
• Ready to eat food is more suitable for these areas as availability of fuel will be a problem.
• As rainfall trend shows that there will be heavy rainfall in the month of August and September and the situation may continue till
October.
• ORS packets are not adequate for the affected areas. Most of the doctors are busy in health camps and may need more doctors with
medicines after receding of the water. There is a need of bleaching powders, lime and halogene tablets immediately for the 22
districts.
• Health problem will be a major threat to these areas. Immunization is totally stopped after 2nd July 2002. due to communication
disruption and people are on the road.
• Fodder will be a major problem for these areas after few days, and there is chance of epidemic among the animals due to stagnation
of water.
• There will be no Crop in all affected areas before October. Here most of the people are marginal farmer or agricultural labour, they
may not get any opportunity for their livelihood. Migration may be occurred after few days.
• Food is required for the affected population for next three months, as government has already declared that each family will get one-
quintal wheat and 250/- per month, the existing stock is inadequate.
• Availability of Fuel will be a major problem.
• Drinking water is a major problem for those who are residing on the road and embankments.
Water level of the following rivers as of today:
Buddhi Gandak - 34 cm & 126 cm above Danger Level at Samastipur and Rossera
Bagmati – 55 cm above Danger Level at Beniabad and 75 cm Hayaghat
Adhwara – 21 cm & 91 cm above the Red Mark at Kamtaul and Ekmighat.
Kosi – 115 cm at Baltara
NATIONAL RESPONSE:
• 3 Army helicopters and military boats have been called and are operationalizing in Darbhanga, Seohar & Madhubani districts. 27789
food packets have been airdropped and 148969 packets by military boats and 1918.15quintals of other materials have been air
dropped in Seohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani since 24. 07.2002
• Services of 2 helicopters are being taken in Samastipur and one in Supaul District.
• 3 Army column are engaged in relief and rescue work in Gopalganj, Madhubani & Samastipur
• Govt. has provided polythene for 40,000 families
• Services of two helicopters have been requisitioned for Samastipur.
• 3-army column engaged in relief and rescue work in Gopalganj, Madhubani and Samastipur.
• 1 Column of army boat have been assisting for rescue and relief work in Gopalganj district
• Facing a grim flood situation in 19 of 39 districts, Bihar has requested the federal government to release Rs. 2 billion from the Natural
Calamity Relief Fund to speed up relief and rescue work.
• With the flood water receding in many places spraying of DDT is underway
• Ready to eat food are already distributed to the affected people through air dropped, distributed through boats etc.
• Centre has announced to provide 25,000tonnes of food grains free of cost to the state for distribution among the flood affected people
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES:
• State government and district administration are busy in rescue evacuation and relief distribution. Action has been taken to assess the
drug position of each district for future health problem. Temporary shelters are mobilized for evacuees.

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• The relief and rehabilitation department have already allocated Rs. 16 Cr for relief work. Government flood control camps have been
activated/ Police outposts have also been activated. Relief stocks available at Panchayat & blockhead quarters. Relief Camps: 583
functioning
• Ready to eat food are already distributed to the affected people through air dropped, distributed through boats etc. 27039 packets has
been distributed through air dropping and 26250 packets by Military Boats.
• Bihar, Chief Minister have directed the district collectors to assess the damage and then get Indira Awas Yojana houses constructed
for BPL house holds. The dependents of each people killed will be paid Rs. 50,000 as compensation.

OPERATIONS / MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES:

o 6293 boats have been deployed; three helicopters are used for air dropped. 19 Powerboat have been sent to affected district and 7
more to be provided today. Some army boats have been deployed.
o Gratuitous Relief as Wheat distributed: 66,955.18Qtls
o Readymade food distributed:6,007.67 Qtls
o Matchboxes: 93,385 [nos]
o Candles: 102,910 [nos]
o Polythene Sheets [distributed]: 184,683 metres.
o Kerosene. Oil distributed: 60,493 litres.
o Cash Dole: Rs.33.2 million
o Mobile health Units is functioning at certain sites in Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.
State government is provided tents to around 5000 families only and unable to mobilize more temporary shelters. They are requesting all
developmental agencies to provide tent and polythene. Temporary shelter is priority need of the state.

CO-ORDINATION:
Very Few NGOs / INGOs have started working on the ground. Oxfam has started damage assessment in Madhubani District and Indian Red
Cross is active at the ongoing situation. In most of the places the Indian Red cross is supporting government for relief distribution. Gram Vikas
Parishad is also assisting in the current situation according to the DM, Madhubani

On 7.08.02 the first Coordination Committee meeting was held at the office of the SRC which was attended by other partners. Following issues
were discussed:
• Relief Commissioner-cum – Secretary has requested all the participants to mobilize more resources and help the flood victims in the
above-mentioned sectors.
• Relief and rehabilitation Dept., Bihar will provide the logistic for delivery of the items if any body need any help for distribution.
• Itemsmobilized from International agencies are the following
Agency Polythene/ PVC Roll Family Halogene Bleaching Tube well Cloth Volunteers/ Human
tarpaulins/ tents packet tabs powder( kg) resources
UNICEF 5,000 families 15,000,000 100,000
Indian Red Cross 5,000 families 2,400 sqfeets 4,000 2,000
Society families children
UNDP 4,000 families [1000 100 to IT facilitator, Logistic and other
already given to Samastipur Human Resources for
Samastipur] immediate assessment
CENCORED Volunteers for relief
distribution
PRIORITY NEEDS:
• The immediate need is Drinking Water and more attention has to be to check the epidemic, as the water will remain for next three months.
• Temporary shelter is the top priority need of the state. The polythene or tents are not available locally and state government is requesting
for polythene to the evacuees.
• Sufficient steps to be taken by the health department for disinfections of drinking water and other water bodies in the rural areas. They
need bleaching powders, lime and halogen tablets. SRC has expressed that there is a need for strengthening the embankment on Bagmati
and Kamlabalan Rivers.
• Boat availability is a big constrain due to non-occurrence of floods in the recent past.
• District Magistrate, Gopalganj has requested for health assistance [need of doctors] and situational assessment.
• District Magistrate, Darbhanga has reported shortage of boats hindering the relief work in the interior pockets of the district where affected
people are stranded now. [Relief Camps]
• Temporary toilets are required to keep the environment clean, which will help in controlling the spread of epidemics.
• Strengthening of medical control room, introducing disease surveillance system
• Health Secretary has stated that they have enough stocks of medicines to cope with the floods, with the exception of anti-snake venom
sera.
• The government would appreciate if drugs against kala azar are supplied.
• Strengthening immunization network
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SITREP 12/08/2002
• Co-ordination between Govt., NGOs & Community
• Up gradations of control rooms
• After receding of water for next two month as the next crop will be on October. Food for work will essential to check the migration.
• There is huge loss due to breaches and damage to road network. International support is required close the breach as well as provide
livelihood option to the affected people.
Gap Analysis
Sector Items Provided Requirement
Housing Temporary Shelter for 15.00 lakh population 166,286 mt. 135,000 mt polythene sheets
Rescue and Boat for relief distribution and evacuation 5,567[mechanized, More rubber boat is required for relief distribution
relief distribution country, govt. and private
boats]
Life jacket for volunteers, those who are 100 life jackets
involved for rescue and relief distribution
Drinking water Safe drinking water Not adequate Halogene tab., mobile water purifiers, tube well at
embankments
Bleaching powder 5,000 bags
Tube well Arranged locally 20,000 tube wells for camp site and the
embankments, roads, railway tracks
Sanitation Sanitation facilities Not adequate Urgent need as people are living on the
embankments and contaminating the areas
Food Baby food Not supplied Baby food required for more than 54 lakhs
children for three months
Health ORS Available in PHCs 3,000,000 packets
Live saving drugs Available in PHCs and Anti snake venom, anti rabies, ARI, Fever, skin
fund provided for infection
procurement
Clothes Clothes Children and women
REQUIREMENTS:
• UNDP is supporting the local administration in providing temporary shelter and other essentials. UNDP is also assisting the Relief
Commissioner, Bihar in strengthening the coordination System with Information Technology and Management Information System support.
OCHA and Govt. of Norway Grant is being used for provision of temporary roofing and emergency drinking water provision for population
living on roads, embankments and railway tracks. UNV livelihood and Habitat Specialist are assessing the need and possibility of a
recovery programme. 2 UNV doctors are providing health assistance to Sitamarhi District.
• UNICEF is mobilizing 4,000 bags of bleaching powders ORS packets are not adequate for the affected areas. Most of the doctors are busy
in health camps and may need more doctors with medicines after receding of the water.
• IRCS are reviewing the relief operation and condition of health services in the flood-affected areas. 45 tents and 38 rubber boats has been
provided by them. In most of the places the Indian Red Cross is supporting government for relief distribution.
• USAID and Concern World Wide have shown their interest and will conduct a preliminary assessment. Swiss Red Cross team is here for
assessment of the situation.
• UNDP will provide polythene for another 3000 families and 100 swallow tube wells on campsites and embankments for safe drinking water.
• UNICEF, Bihar will provide polythene sheets for 5,000 families. 100,000 kg bleaching powder, 500,000 halogen tablets.
• IRCS has distributed 45 tents and few food materials in some of the worst affected districts. IRCS also will provide polythene for 5,000
families with some family kits.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
o State Relief Commissioners Office, Patna
o Deputy. Secretary. Relief & Rehabilitation Department, Patna, Bihar
o UNDP, Bihar
o District Magistrate, Affected Districts
o Director, IRCS, Bihar
o UNICEF, Bihar
o Media Reports
o Central Water Commission.

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