SAVE THE FLOOD VICTIMS OF BIHAR |
Most of us are aware through media reports that Bihar state of India is facing worst tragedy as there is massive flood in North Bihar. Men, women and children, animals and villages are sinking in the flood waters. According to the latest media reports the catastrophe has created massive loss of lives, displacement of millions of people, damage of millions of hectare of standing crops, acute scarcity of drinking water especially in submerged areas, total destruction of food stocks/houses, and much more. More and more gruesome stories are being reported in media. Considering the ferocity of the floods and damages caused thereof the Prime Minister of India declared it as National Calamity. Some highlights of the devastation caused by national calamity are:
• The districts most affected are Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Khagaria, Araria, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Katihar, etc.
• Over 30 lakhs (3 million) people are affected and uprooted leaving their homes, property, animals, families, and everything in the districts of Supaul,
• Roads, highways, rail tracks were all submerged and damaged. Therefore, the boats remained to be the only mean to rescue the people, but the Government had no adequate number of boats.
• Those who somehow saved their lives or been rescued were staying at nearest dry places: railway stations, school building, other such public places.
• Araria district is one of the most affected districts, which was selected by Grassroots India for relief and rehabilitation work.
GRASSROOTS INDIA TRUST has provided relief in Araria district in Bihar. Details of flood situation and damage are given as under:
LOCATION OF ARARIA DISTRICT
Araria is not only among the top 10 most flood-prone districts in Bihar but is one of the most vulnerable districts in the country. Araria falls in earthquake zone V, the most sensitive zone. Though the earthquake is most threatening calamity of the district, but the flood, drought, cyclone, fire, storm and cold wave are the other prominent disasters posing threat the district. It borders Nepal in the north. It has an area of 2830 square km with the population of 2124831 (census 2001). About 75% population of the district is composed by Muslims (nearly 45% of them are literate), while over 14% are dalits (scheduled castes) and rest others castes of Hindus.
About 200 years ago, the river Kosi had its course through this region which rejuvenated again when its barrage breached at Kusaha in Nepal on 18th August 2008. Most rivers have east and south east direction. The rivers flowing in this region can be divided into two groups:
1. Eastern branch of Kosi and its tributaries: Fariyani Lachha, Burhi Kosi, Kajara Kamla, Kamtaha, Sita, Sora, Dulardei, Sursar Hiran and its tributaries. Areas of Forbesganj, Narpatganj, Bhargama blocks are affected with this group of rivers.
2. River Parman and its group: Bakra, Bhalua, Bahelia, Rajai and its streams constitute this group. River Parman arises from hills of Himalayas in Sunsari district of Nepal and enters in Indian territory at Jogbani of Araria district and falls into Mahananda near Katihar while flowing through Araria district headquarter. Bakra river has rapid and fast current during rainy season and causes havoc in lives of thousands by flood in Kusankanta, Palasi, Jokihat and Sikti blocks.
District is characterized with double cropping practice. Paddy, wheat, jute and oilseeds are prime crops of Araria. Economy of the district remains agrarian, as 90% population depends on cultivation and agricultural labor. Poverty and illiteracy are responsible for reported human trafficking, girl child abuse, out-migration and social fragmentation.
EXPOSURE OF ARARIA TO NATURAL CALAMITIES
Araria has perennial problems of flood and water stagnation throughout the year. Flood creates havoc among human and cattle populations and destroys property, standing crops, roads, embankments, infrastructure, tube wells, horticulture, electricity, etc. Months of July to September are flood prone months every year. After independence, Araria has suffered from incidences of flood fury in 1987, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2008, and the impact of flood on general life of people can be understood from the tabulated data as under:
Year |
Affected panchayat |
Affected villages |
Affected Population (in hundred thousands) |
Affected cattle (in hundred thousands) |
Affected Area (in hundred thousands hectares) |
Affected Crop area
(in hundred thousands hectares) |
Affected
houses |
Human casualty |
1998 |
140 |
421 |
8.84 |
0.64 |
1.68 |
1.17 |
2990 |
06 |
2000 |
47 |
297 |
2.35 |
0.42 |
1.49 |
1.49 |
2466 |
04 |
2003 |
143 |
421 |
8.85 |
0.64 |
1.98 |
1.32 |
2946 |
08 |
2008 |
60 |
83 |
2.28 |
0.81 |
1.54 |
2.72 |
3835 |
03 |
Source: DM Report 2008, Araria Collectorate
It is well known fact that impact of natural hazards is more visible in the areas which remained economically backward. About 65% people remain below poverty line in the district and their dependency on nature and government aid was clearly visible in last occurrence of flood. Population constituted by minorities, dalits, scheduled tribes and extreme backward remains most vulnerable to hazards because of their weaker economic and social conditions. People are dependent more on external support and resources because of regular phenomenon of flood.
RAPID ASSESSMENT OF 2008 FLOODS IN ARARIA DISTRICT
- Araria district had received the flood victims from about 46 panchayats – some of Araria district and rest of Supaul district. The most affected villages lie on the borderline of Araria and Supaul district, from where the Kosi river took new route. About 108000 people have evacuated and reached camps or their relatives in Araria district. In Araria district alone, 60 relief camps were in operation including 7 mega camps. Majority of the camps were run by the government where essential food supplies, drinking water and toilet facilities were ensured by the government with the support of government and non-government agencies.
- About 80% of the affected population in Araria camps belonged to Muslim communities whereas about 15% belonged to Dalit category. Victims of upper Hindu castes mostly stayed with their relatives.
- About 70-80% people in camps of Araria district actually belonged to Supaul district (especially Basantpur block), who escaped and moved to Forbesganj/Araria via Sursar Hanuman Nagar and Ghurna. Two roads – Ghurna to Batnaha road and Birpur to Batnaha road – saved majority of the evacuated people.
- Sursar Hanuman Nagar (Achra panchayat) had (and still has) about 300 families staying on embankment and roadside who received little relief. Since the currents of Kosi river are flowing adjacent to this embankment of Sursar river, the district administration warned the people to vacate the places and take refuge in the relief camps. Despite the fact that these families did not receive much external help they decided to live on the embankment, as they wished to look after their drowned houses and properties. Those who had something left back home often kept moving into and out of the villages in order to keep vigil on their properties. It happened because the theft of properties became common in the villages from where the people evacuated.
- With countless damage of the agriculture, houses, lands, and other assets of the people, a huge number of animals was reported dead. Loss of human lives is also massive. There are no accurate figures available as yet of the casualties. For example, in Balwa panchayat (Supaul district) alone 8000-10000 people evacuated with 10000 animals dead. There is intense smell of the dead humans/animals in many inundated areas especially Sursar Hanuman Nagar, Balwa, Thuthi, Nizam Chowk, etc. In Manikpur panchayat, about 2000 families got affected, while 2100 in Lalpur panchayat, 600 in Patraha panchayat, 300 in Ghanshyam Bisanpur, 5000 in Chainpur Thuthi, 4000 in Baghaili panchayat, and so on.
- There was scarcity of medical doctors and paramedics in the camps, no trained person on disaster management in the district, lack of communication/vehicles. In all the camps there was heavy scarcity of medical doctors and sanitation facilities. On 20 Sept we got report that an old man died in Phulkaha camp and a child died in Araria College camp. Both are government run Mega Camps. Our team also cited a diarrhea death at embankment of Sursar on 22 September 2008.
- According to district authorities, most of the INGOs and NGOs came to Araria for assessment only. Very few entered in to relief operation. Our team found only Save the Children, MSF, RedR, unicef, Red Cross and Vishwas/WaterAid working in the field. Moreover, for most of the NGOs the relief camps were convenient places to operate. None except us reached the inaccessible villages of Araria where in fact neither the government nor non-government people ever reached. However, large number of civil society organization (CSOs) was seen having distributed relief material on road heads. Some of them ran camps too.
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WE APPEAL ALL THE CONCERNED TO CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME FOR PEOPLE OF BIHAR. PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY!
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MODE OF PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTION:
By Cheque (from India):
Drawn in favour of GRASSROOTS INDIA TRUST payable at New Delhi.
Send it by post to:
Administrator, Grassroots India Trust, 301 H-51/E, A. F. Enclave, Okhla, New Delhi – 110 025 India
By direct Bank Transfer (from India):
Name of Account Holder: Grassroots India Trust
Account Number: 279010100007207
Name of Bank: AXIS Bank
Address of Bank: 18 Netaji Subhash Marg, Daryaganj, New Delhi – 110 002
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
By direct Bank Transfer (from Foreign country):
Name of Account Holder: OFFER
Account Number: 337
Name of Bank: Canara Bank
Address of Bank: Cherootty Road Branch, Calicut-673001 (Kerala) India
SWIFT Code: CNRBINBBNFC
In case of any query please contact the following:
Mr. H. Arjjumend, Executive Director, Grassroots India Trust. Tel: +91-9868993710 E-mail: grassrootsindiatrust@gmail.com, trust@grassroots.org.in Website: www.grassroots.org.in, www.grassrootsglobal.net
* When you send a Cheque or Transfer the amount, kindly intimate through e-mail or by post to the above contact.
