India
is experiencing a very rough monsoon season this year and although
some Indian states have seen a respite from heavy rains and
storms in recent days, floods are continuing to cause destruction
and force people from their homes in the state of Rajasthan,
where the official death toll from the flash flooding currently
stands at 130.
As an auxiliary agency to the government,
the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) has been responding to flooding
across western and central parts of the country, including the
states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and, most recently, Rajasthan.
An
estimated 58,0000 people in 12 districts of Rajasthan have been
severely affected by the floods, including Banswara, Barmer,
Chittorgarh, Kota, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Jalore, Pali, Rajsamand,
Sirohi, Udaipur and Jaisalmer. Approximately 170,000 hectares
of cultivable land in more than 5,800 villages have been damaged
or destroyed.
Barmer, one of the worst affected districts
in Rajasthan, has reported 104 deaths due to the incessant rains,
which lashed this normally arid region in mid-August. Local
officials and residents say Barmer has been experiencing some
of the worst flooding to hit the area in two centuries.
In addition, more than 10,000 people are reported to be suffering
from illnesses, such as diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain,
related to the damp and unhealthy conditions. What’s more,
at least 45,000 cattle have been killed by the rising flood
waters. In response, officials have rushed 40 medical teams
and several veterinary experts to Barmer.
Parts of
the district continue to be submerged under 10 to 15 feet of
water, while hundreds of people remain trapped atop sand dunes
and houses, tens of thousands have been displaced and many have
gone missing.
The authorities have sent 23 high power
water pumps to the villages of Malwa and Kawas to help flush
out the stagnant water. Meanwhile, specialized Navy divers have
also been called in to help evacuate stranded survivors and
retrieve dead bodies in these villages.
The Indian
Red Cross national headquarters and local branches are actively
assisting with rescue and relief operations in the region, while
the army has been deployed to help evacuate stranded flood survivors.
Relief
items, including clothing, basic kitchen items, plastic buckets,
towels, blankets and sheets have also been distributed by the
Red Cross to those made homeless by the floods. In addition,
the Red Cross is participating in coordination meetings with
other relief agencies in Rajasthan.
The IRCS district
branches in Rajasthan are normally involved with providing primary
health care to vulnerable groups via medical camps and community
welfare activities. In Jodhpur district, there are over 300
Red Cross volunteers trained in mine risk education (MRE), many
of whom have been asked to carry out flood relief work by the
local branch and officials.
Meanwhile, 17 people have died in the Gujarat district of Surat
due to various health ailments and hundreds have been affected
by diseases like leptospirosis, pneumonia and viral infections
related to the damp and unhealthy conditions resulting from
the floods.
In response, the IRCS national headquarters has provided approximately
75,000 Swiss francs ($US 61,000 USD/Euros 48,000) worth of relief
supplies to the Gujarat state branch, while two water purification
units have been set up in Amaroli and Simada, in Surat district.
Dr S.P.Agarwal, Secretary General of the IRCS, said he was “closely
monitoring the situation” in the flood-affected areas
and that the national headquarters was in “constant touch”
with its state branch representatives.
In an another significant development,
two days of continuous heavy rains in central and western Orissa,
have led to flood alerts in ten coastal districts following
a huge flow of water to the River Mahanadi from its tributaries.
Local authorities are on stand-by to take up relief
and rescue operations and the Orissa state branch Red Cross
emergency operation centre has been activated. Local Red Cross
representatives are worried that the district branches might
be pushed to their limit by a third round of unusually heavy
flooding this season.
At the request of the state
branch, the IRCS national headquarters plans to send relief
items, such as utensils, family packs, tarpaulins, water purification
tablets and assorted clothes to Orissa.
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The
Indian Red Cross Society travel through flooded areas
with relief for distribution. (p14580)
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The
Indian Red Cross Society visits villages to talk to local
communities and distribute aid. (p14579)
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The
Red Cross national headquarters and state and local branches
are actively assisting with rescue and relief operations
in the region. (p14581)
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Those
who have been made homeless by the floods receive clothing,
basic kitchen items, plastic buckets, towels, blankets
and sheets. (p14582)
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