The current monsoon has plunged Orissa into a fresh crisis. During the first half of July, the state has already received more than 30% of the annual rainfall, the normal quota for the whole of monsoon. As many as 7032 villages in 1254 Gram Panchayats in 118 blocks in 17 districts with 3.54 million people have been cut off or submerged in flood waters. The damage caused to agriculture is stupendous. About 360 thousand hectares of paddy crop are rotting under water. The total loss, as per government’s early estimates amounts to about 17.13 Crore rupees.

The Jagatsinghpur district-where the CYSD Cyclone Rehabilitation Project is operating-has not been so acutely affected as Puri, Kendrapara, Kalahandi districts. However, Jagatsinghpur has suffered a lot of damage. A total of 1308 villages in 168 Gram Panchayats (GP) of 8 blocks have been affected in the district. An estimated 16-18 thousand hectares of paddy crops are submerged in water. In GPs where CYSD operates a total of about 3000 hectares of submerged agricultural lands may yield little this season. Jagatsinghpur seems to be inching towards grave danger with the river system of Mahanadi, Kathjori and distributaries Debi and Biluakhai currently flowing above the ‘danger’ mark. To compound problems, the Hirakud reservoir has been reportedly receiving about 4,00,000 cusec of water and releasing 24,000 cubic ft. Its water level was at 621 meters this morning (17th July 2001) and was steadily increasing. While its danger level is at 630 metres, the reservoir will be forced to release excess water in case the water level crosses 626 metres. This will worsen the flood situation.

Even as the state government announced a Red Alert yesterday (16th July 2001) the preparedness level is far below the requirement levels. The CYSD Rehabilitation team is in constant touch with the block/district administration and with the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority for information and possible field level mobilisation of support. The situation appears unpredictable and any moment the balance may be tilted for the worse. It may require vast relief and other allied interventions to meet the emergency.

18 July 2001, 6.00 PM

Heavy Loss Despite Red Alert

Continuous and unusually heavy rainfall in the current monsoon has wrecked havoc in the state, causing unprecedented damage to crops, property, animal and human lives. If the uninterrupted rain continues for the next couple of days, the present flood situation is feared to worsen further. The exact magnitude of damage is yet to be ascertained, as more and more loss of lives and property is reported each day. During the last 150 years, Orissa has suffered 17 devastating floods.

The state Government on 16th July declared red alert for five districts: Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur. On 18th July as many as 4 million people in 21 districts are reeling under the impact of flood. Orissa Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik has requested the Prime Minister for a preliminary calamity assistance of Rs.200 crores. The Prime Minister has directed his Cabinet Secretary to release the sum from the PM Relief Fund. Meanwhile, airdropping of food has begun in flood affected areas. The state has declared closure of schools and colleges in the flood affected areas till 21.7.2001. Weather experts forecast heavy rains in the next 48 hours.

Field situation

Epidemics have broken out in many pockets of Kendrapada, Jajpur, Jagasinghpur, Puri districts. Excess water being released from the Hirakud Dam is expected to reach Cuttack today by 6.00 P.M, causing significant rise in water levels in Mahanadi, Kathajodi and other tributaries.

Puri: 10 Blocks are already affected. Any breach in Bauriakana of Kakatpur block near Devi river is likely to affect all areas of Astaranga and Kakatpur blocks. NGOs have helped 11300 people shift to safer places. More than 50,000 people have refused to leave their villages. Food materials are being distributed.

Jagatsinghpur: Kandarpur road has been sealed. Cost of essential commodities has gone up. Kerosene is being sold at Rs.40 per litre. Over 100,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas of Balikuda, Ersama, Machhagaon, Biridi, Naugaon, Alipingal, etc. In Ersama block the govt. has started distribution of medicines and preventives such as Halogen tablets, ORS packets, anti-diarrhoea packets. However, the available medicines are insufficient to meet the crisis. NGOs such as CYSD-RACHANA, SRADHA, Action-Aid, BGVS, Jeevan have started rescue operations and are in touch with the Erasama BDO.

Jajpur: 400,000 people of 380 villages in nine blocks have been affected; 71 villages in Bari block submerged by floddwaters from Brahmani, Kharasrota and Tantighai rivers; 60 gram panchayats of Bari, Badachana and Korei blocks are cut off. NGOs have evacuated 19,000 people from Bari, Binjarpur, Badachana and Danagadi blocks and taking relief measures for these people.

Jharsuguda: Jharsuguda district has been cut off from Sambalpur and Brajarajnagar towns; roads are flooded near Rengali. No information is available regarding NGO activity in this district.

Cuttack: Over 100 villages in Athagarh and Banki sub-divisions have been severely affected. Five breaches have come up in the ring embankment at Cuttack. The ring road has been sealed. Water level in Mahanadi and Kathjori has been rising. 11,000 people from Narsinghpur area have been evacuated due to the breach at Gopinathpur. Sandbags are being used to check breaches and leakages. The district administration is keeping strict surveillance.

Anugul: Atthamallik and Anugul sub-divisions have been badly affected with total collapse of communication links. Police wireless system remains the only means of communication. Two-day relief was provided to affected people in Atthamallik, Thakurgarh, Boinda, Madhapur, Kiakala, Tikarapada, and Purunagarh areas.

Kendrapara: 24 out of 26 Gram Panchayats (70,000 people) of Rajkanika block have been flooded by Baitarini and Kharasrota rivers. 10,000 acres of cropped land has been destroyed. A 20 ft wide breach has been created at Jayatalanga in Patkora block. —————–Source: Government, Newspaper reports and volunteers’ reports from the field.

CYSD’s Response:
In view of the red alert in Jagatsinghpur (its own operational area), CYSD has mobilised its team and volunteers from Community Based Organisations (CBOs) to rescue people at Titira, Thailo, Borikina and Rahana GPs of Balikuda block and in Japa and Nuadihi GPs of Erasama block. A 59 member CYSD volunteer team is engaged in rescue and relief operations.

CYSD team members are trying to evacuate affected people and provide them with appropriate shelter, giving special importance to vulnerable groups. At the same time, CYSD is encouraging community volunteers to stay back in their villages to behind to protect properties.

CYSD has set up Volunteer Points at Erasama and Balikuda block offices. These camps support government departments in delivering relief items to the affected people and also in coordinating efforts with Panchayat bodies, other NGOs and volunteers. CYSD health team has left for Jagatsinghpur.

19 July 2001, Time: 400 PM

The flood crisis in Orissa continues to worsen as rain pours incessantly over the state. As of now, 18 breaches have occurred, washing away villages, disrupting communication and rendering thousands homeless. 7,200 villages stand cut off. Many areas have been submerged under water. Over 10,000 people have taken shelter on the express highway near the port town of Paradip. Epidemic has reportedly broken out in many areas. Government and NGOs have already despatched health teams and distribution of ORS, anti-diarrhoea tablets have begun.
As many as 50 major roads, including national highways, have been submerged under water in three districts of Cuttack, Puri and Khurda. Rail traffic has also been affected, though road traffic on national highways was normal.

The annual monsoon season usually starts in June and lasts until September. This year the state recorded 84 percent more rain than normal between June 1 and July 11. The situation could worsen if the rain continues. The Army and the Air Force have been pressed into service. However, the weather has affected relief work by the Air Force. One helicopter was forced to turn back, while four other choppers flew 12 sorties on to rescue people and drop food packets.

Breaches in the flood-affected areas

20 July 2001, Time: 4.00 PM

As the flood enters its 11th day, there are reports of more number of people being affected. People of the low-lying areas have been asked to shift to safer places, as water levels in major rivers are likely to swell in next 48 hours. As of now, 18 breaches have occurred, washing away villages, disrupting communication and rendering thousands homeless.

Airdropping of food packets and rescue operations is continuing. But relief has not yet reached inundated and inaccessible areas. Rivers Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Devi among others continue to swell with water flowing from Hirakud reservoir at 4, 50,000 cusecs.

Meanwhile, diarrhoea cases have been reported from various flood-hit areas. At least 1,458 persons have been affected. The number is on the rise and it is feared that it would assume epidemic proportions. Six persons have died.

21 July 2001, Time: 3.30 PM

Floods have reached the 12th day. The number of people affected is rising unabated. Villages along the riverbanks and coastline are cut off, as communication links have still not been established. More casualties are apprehended with the water level refusing to subside due to lunar effect. Although the discharge from Hirakud has been reduced, Mahanadi, Kathajodi, and Devi continue to swell due to high tide in the sea. The discharge from Rengali dam may cause swelling of Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers. As of now, 51 breaches have occurred in the embankments of the above rivers.

Relief and rescue measures

Airdropping of food packets and rescue operations is continuing on a war footing. But relief is yet to reach many areas that have either been submerged under water. Scant availability of food materials has further compounded problems. The army and the navy have been called in to speed up relief and rescue work. Powerboats are being used to reach inaccessible places.

NGOs have also started their relief and rescue operations. The government has set up a co-ordinating mechanism between the UN, government departments, international and national NGOs under the auspices of the Orissa State Disaster Management Agency (OSDMA).

Problems and Issues

NGOs require critical support from the government in the form of powerboats, health supplies, dry food, etc to augment relief work. The NGO sector has requested the government to channelise 10 percent of medicine, bleaching powder, ORS packets and halogen tablets through them.

Shelter continues to remain a critical issue. Thousands of people who have been rendered homeless are taking shelter on trees and rooftops while the evacuated people from many villages are being accommodated in schools and colleges. The state government has decided to set up camps rather than provide any shelter materials like polythene sheets or tarpaulin. Four hundred tents have been airlifted from Delhi, which will be utilized for shelter of the flood-affected people. Considering that the number of tents is inadequate vis-à-vis people’s need, NGOs have been requested to procure polythene sheets. Meanwhile, the affected people continue to bear the brunt of erratic weather conditions. Fibreglass motorboats and inflatable boats are expected to reach on 21 July.

Education has been badly disrupted in flood-hit areas. Most schools and colleges are either submerged or being used as emergency shelters. Schools and colleges have been declared closed till 27 July.
The stagnating floodwaters have also resulted in the outbreak of gastro-enteritis. Diarrhoea has affected at least 1,740 persons. Six persons have died so far. As per information, five deaths have occurred due to snakebite and 15 have contracted jaundice in Balasore district.

22 July 2001, Time: 3.30 PM

Flood casts spell of gloom

“While flying overhead, it seems like an ocean of swirling water. I have never seen anything like this.” This comment by Air Marshal S.G.Inamdar, chief of Indian Air Force, Eastern Command sums up the flood situation in Orissa.
Water levels in major rivers have started to subside. However, villages along the coastline, riverbanks and low lying areas are still submerged/surrounded by water. The decrease in the discharge from Hirakud dam has led to a steady fall in water levels of Mahanadi and its distributaries. Discharge of water from Rengali dam has been a cause of concern, as it may cause rise in water levels in Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers.
The government has announced that Air-dropping of food packets will continue as long as the situation so demands. The government and NGOs are carrying on rescue operations on a war footing. As many areas remain inundated, distribution of relief materials in these areas has been a difficult task. The present availability of food material is also not adequate. Children are probably the worst sufferers with no baby food being distributed.

Heavy rains are likely to occur in North-western parts of Orissa in the next 24 hours causing flash floods in Bhadrak and Balasore districts. Rain is also like in the Chattisgarh region, causing an increase in the influx of water into Mahanadi.

Problems and Issues:

More than 1,25,024 livestock have been affected. The exact number of animal deaths is not known. Fodder has been in short supply.

Diarrhoea cases are on rise, in Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur districts. By 22 July morning, the disease affected at least 1,918 persons. The death toll has gone up to seven. 18 jaundice cases have been detected in Puri and Cuttack districts with death of one person. Fever, cold, cough and sporadic cholera cases have also been reported.

Snake bites are widely reported in flood affected areas in Cuttack and Puri districts. Three persons have already died of snakebite in Jajpur district. There is an urgent need of anti-venom medicines in affected areas.

673 suspected cases of malaria were reported in Bhadrak and Balasore. The government has already despatched 53 doctors, 17 medical students, 19 paramedics, 7 attendants with 16 vehicles to affected areas. A Naval medical team with one doctor has been sent to Kendrapara while another team has been sent to Niali.

Floods have damaged 200 roads and created breaches on the embankments of various rivers at 332 places.

23 July 2001, 6.00 PM

Rains over, not woes

The monsoon onslaught has subsided over most parts of the state, but refuses to completely die down. The weather forecast has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in the northern interior parts of the state in the coming 24 hours. The water level in most rivers has begun to subside except in Brahmani and Baitarani. Fresh floods in these two major rivers may affect Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Cuttack districts. There have been reports of a new breach in Jagatsinghpur district.

The affected people are now trying to piece together broken threads of their lives, upset by marauding floods. What used to be houses and schools are now reduced to vast fields of mud. Thousands of hectares of crop fields have been sand cast. The crucial phase of rehabilitation has started in most areas as people are faced with a bleak and uncertain future.

2.0 Gaps in relief and rescue measures

The disaster of this scale and magnitude warranted immediate and effective response from the government. Despite the latter’s best efforts, there seem to be gaps between relief and rescue measures undertaken and people’s actual needs. Public discontent appears to be brewing in many flood-hit areas due to insufficient relief measures.

In Kendrapara district, relief was distributed among 1,85,552 people for a period of three days, while 5,67,989 people are reportedly affected. In Bari block of Jajpur district, reports said agitated people gheraoed the project officer complaining unavailability of relief. The affected people in the interior and inaccessible areas of many districts are still living in pathetic conditions, as relief has not yet reached these areas. For instance, Sithalo GP of Nimapara block in Puri district is yet to receive relief even as 10 days have passed since floods hit the area. Angry people gheraoed the Civil Supplies Officer at Sambalpur in protest against the lack of adequate supply of relief material. Irate mobs held up five trucks, loaded with relief materials, awaiting despatch to flood hit areas in coastal districts, said sources.

2.1 Problems in airdropping

Four persons were injured at Astarang and Delang blocks in Puri district when bags containing food packets for flood victims dropped from IAF helicoptor on Saturday struck them. Air dropped food packets also damaged 10 houses, said reports.

2.2 Power (less) boats!

Seven powerboats had been pressed into service in Nimapada block of Puri district for relief and rescue operation, four of which reportedly broke down. Only three powerboats are functioning at the moment, severely affecting rescue operations. Elsewhere, another powerboat carrying relief workers of a medical team got overturned in the swirling floodwaters near Delang in Puri district, drowning two persons.

3.0 Health hazards

3.1 Diarrhoea cases

Alarming spread of water borne diseases has caused panic in the state. The total number of persons affected by diarrhoea has risen to 1,925. The government has sent 66 medical teams to tackle the emergency in flood affected areas. However, such measures are too inadequate to cater to hundreds of thousands of people, in urgent need of medical assistance. The death toll caused by diarrhoea in flood-hit districts has risen to eight with two more deaths reported on Sunday, one each from Cuttack and Keonjhar.

3.2 Children: a forgotten cause?

An estimated 2.16 million children and 2 million women have been affected by floods. Reports suggest a rise in cases of gastroenteritis affecting children who have been surviving on contaminated food and water. Government relief efforts are yet to target children as a priority group. There is an urgent need for medicine specialists to visit flood-affected areas, survey the health situation and suggest remedies.

3.3 Threat to livestock

According to information from affected areas, more than 1,25,024 livestock have been affected. The exact number of animal deaths is not known as yet. Severe shortage of cattle feed in flood affected areas has been reported. So far, only 400 quintals of fodder has been distributed in the Bari block of Jajpur district, which is peanuts compared to the actual requirement of 8,000 quintals in the area.

The dearth of veterinary doctors has further worsened conditions of livestock in flood hit areas. An outbreak of contagious diseases among livestock cannot be ruled out.

3.4 Shelter for the homeless

Most flood-affected people still live under the open sky as tarpaulin tents and polythene sheets are yet to reach them. With the polythene scam during the ’99 cyclone still fresh in people’s mind, the government, instead of buying and distributing polythene sheets, has decided this time to give Rupees 400/- each to affected families.

The government has not even been able to provide relief to flood victims in interior areas even after 10 days of floods. It is difficult to visualise how the government will manage to distribute Rs 400/- each to “affected families” in remote areas and how people would be able to use this money to purchase shelter material.

NGOs, on the other hand, are mobilising biodegradable cheap temporary shelter material called “Hooglas” from neighbouring West Bengal for distribution among people in flood affected areas.

4.0 Crocodile menace
So far floods brought fears of snake and scorpion bites. Now, a new fear has gripped people in flood hit areas following reported crocodile attacks in some villages. The crocodiles from the Bhitarakanika sanctuary have been straying out of their natural territories due to the floods and are attacking the helpless flood affected villagers of Kendrapada district. Two persons have died so far due to crocodile attacks.

5.0 Skyrocketing prices

Unscrupulous traders and black marketeers are out make a fast buck by exploiting the emergency situation. With many villages being submerged and communication links destroyed, prices of vegetables and other essential consumables have skyrocketed in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and other flood affected areas. The government is reportedly taking measures to check price rise, results of which are yet to be visible.

6.0 Disaster preparedness

The loss of thousands of lives during the super cyclone spoke volumes about the poor state of disaster preparedness in Orissa. However, rescue efforts during floods showed systematic efforts of civil society organisations on disaster preparedness over last two years has not gone in vein. If the present response to floods is any indication, we find ourselves well above the mark in effectively handling the current disaster. The devastating flood has given an opportunity to reflect on gaps in our disaster preparedness methods and mechanisms.

24 July 2001, Time: 3.30 PM

Agony persists

Just when people were heaving a sigh of relief after monsoon subsided over most parts of the state, the weather department predicted heavy rains in the next 24 hours in the state. This fresh bout of rainfall is anticipated to further increase the water level in river Brahmani, triggering the fourth spell of flood.

Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas has already caused fresh floods in Brahmani, Baitarani, Kharasrota and Subarnarekha rivers. As a result, Balasore, Bhadrak, Angul, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar have suffered floods. To flush out excess water, five out of 24 gates were opened in the Rengali Dam. Heavy rains also occurred in Chattisdgarh that may increase water levels in Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers.

Problems and Issues

Relief: Contrary to claims that relief was provided to most of the victims, reports from fields suggest thousands of people have not received any relief support as yet. There is an immediate need for dry food and people are insisting for free community kitchens. As of now, 3.18 lakh people are being fed through 427 free kitchens. Other needs identified are kerosene, fodder, medicine, polythene sheets or other shelter materials, boats or rafts, bleaching powder, halogen tablets etc.

While there is gross shortage of food, kerosene, and other provisions, there have been reports of a spurt in black marketing essential consumables. The retailers and wholesalers in flood-hit areas have been accused of misappropriating relief supplies and selling them in the open market at exorbitant prices.

Rescue: Even though, the government has pressed 1040 boats (both government and private) into service, many areas are still inaccessible. It has been estimated that there is a further requirement of boats—40 more in Jagatsinghpur, 30 in Cuttack, 40 in Jajpur, 12 in Deogarh and many more powerboats to speed up relief and rescue work. NGOs appear helpless without any powerboats at their disposal.

Under present circumstances, the government is facing a lot of flak. There have been allegations that had the government taken urgent steps to arrange food and boats soon after floods were predicted, the situation would not have been so acute.

Shelter: With water receding in river Mahanadi, many people in Nayagarh, Jharsuguda, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kalahandi and Boudh have returned to their native places. But swelling Brahmani, Kharasrota and Gobari rivers have made the flood situation worse in Kendrapara, Jajpur, and Talcher area forcing people to live in makeshift homes, highways, schools and colleges and river embankments.

As against the requirement of 2 lakh polythene rolls, the government has received only 39,000. It is expected that NGOs would provide one lakh polythene rolls in two days’ time. Many of the homeless victims have made good use of polythene rolls given to them after the super cyclone.

Health Hazards: The government and voluntary agencies are hard pressed in handling the breakout of water-borne diseases. The health situation is worsening in flood-hit areas. Diarrheal cases have increased to 2222, claiming 8 lives in total. As many as 15 jaundice cases have been reported. The death toll is one. Snakebite cases have increased to 18 with three deaths while 916 people have already contracted malaria. During last 23 days, the government and NGOs have together distributed 1.29 crore halogen tablets and 54 lakh ORS packets and sent 66 health teams. This is definitely inadequate to meet the growing health problem.

NGOs have been urged to supplement government efforts in providing health care. An estimated 21.6 lakh children and 20 lakh women have been affected by floods. There has been a rise in cases of gastroenteritis.

25 July 2001, 6 PM
Fresh floods

Fresh floods hit Jajpur and Kendrapara districts as the water level rose in river Brahmani. Rivers Brahmani, Kharasrota and Kharasuan have been in spate for the last few days. Swirling waters of river Gobari inundated low-lying areas in Kendrapara district. The flood in Brahmani river system is feared to continue for the next five to six days. Meanwhile, clouds over Mahanadi catchement have moved southwards, putting to rest apprehensions of rise in water level in the Mahanadi system. Floodwater has receded in Kathajodi and Mahanadi. There has been a fall in water levels in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Cuttack districts.

Floods have so far affected Angul, Bolangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jagasinghpur, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapara, Khurda, Koraput, Sundergarh, Mowrangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Puri, Rayagada, Sonepur, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Deogarh. The severely affected ones are Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh and Angul.

Problems and Issues:

Agricultural assets damaged: Worst sufferers in the flood are small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. With more than 320.938 million hectares of crop area damaged, they have lost their only sources of income. After the initial phase of relief is over, a few NGOs are planning to provide food ration to landless labourers. Agricultural assets such as check dams, canals and WHS (Water Harvesting Structures) have suffered great damage. Through food-for-work programmes, NGOs plan to help communities repair these assets. Irrigation structures in Orissa continually suffer damage due to recurring natural calamities such as floods, cyclones, and droughts.

Communication delinked: Initial assessments indicated power connections suffered no major damage. However, latest reports say electricity distribution lines have suffered serious damage in several parts of the state. Six towers along Ib Valley-Budhipadar, Burla-Rajgangpur and Budhipadar-Jorabagh (MCL) have collapsed. However, power supply has been restored to Banki and Athamallick sub-divisions.

Meanwhile, surface communication links in several parts of the state still remain submerged in water. This is cited as the prime reason behind breakout of contagious diseases as medical teams find it hard to reach people in many cut-off villages. Powerboats available are sufficient enough to support medical care in affected areas. Most trains have resumed their schedules.

Health deteriorates: 4530 cases of diarrhoea have been reported from flood-hit areas. The death toll has gone up to 12. Till date 49 snakebites, 19 jaundice cases and 1291 malaria cases have been reported. Skin infections have also been reported. The government feels diarrhoea may not assume epidemic proportions, as most fear. Eighty-four medical teams have been sent to affected areas while 156 doctors have been inducted afresh for the purpose.

Relief support still a dream for many: Unfortunately, while so many people are starving, there are miscreants who are busy bungling relief food materials and selling them at exorbitant prices in the open market. Free kitchens have been set up at many places but they are not enough to satisfy the hunger of so many people. Many in interiors have so far received relief only once and have to make do with whatever meagre amount they have received until the next phase of relief is airdropped. The government and NGOs are planning to distribute kerosene.

No roof for the shelterless: Fresh floods on Tuesday reportedly washed away more number of houses. This has increased the number of homeless people. Many people have resorted to taking shelter on national highways and other high places. A very limited number of homeless persons have been accommodated at relief camps. Due to scarcity in tarpaulin, polythene rolls and tents as well as inaccessibility to cut-off areas, shelter materials provided by the government and NGOs is hardly any answer to problems facing people.

[Reports prepared by CYSD Flood Control Room on the basis of information received from CYSD field workers, OSDMA, and stories published in local newspapers.]