Despite measures taken by the concerned departments to prevent them floods continue to menace the country. The situation demands a more scientific and efficient system in place.
THE GEO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS of India make the country prone to natural disasters like floods and tsunamis. The frequency and intensity of floods has grown in the country over the years primarily because of the increased encroachment of flood plains. India receives an annual rainfall of 400 million hectare meters. 75 per cent of the annual rainfall is received during monsoon (from June to September) and, as a result almost all the rivers carry heavy discharge during these four months. Flood situation arises in India almost every year and hence it is important to prepare for a disaster in advance. Floods displace a number of people and cause heavy loss of life and property. The economy also gets affected due to damage of crops directing affecting the agriculture sector. The country needs a better and effective flood mitigation system to ensure the safety of its people and economy.

The Survey of Bihar by Gyandotcom detailed Report

NATURE OF THE DISASTER: FLOODCurrently the flood situation is improving and the relief and rehabilitation process is continuing in the affected districts.Approximately 16.5 million people have been displaced by flood this year in Bihar, where 394,900 houses have collapsed rising the death toll to 419.AREA AFFECTED:• Number of Districts : 24 (Sitamarhi, Nalanda,Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Patna, Katihar,E.Champaran, W. Champaran, Sheohar, Gopalganj,Smastipur, Madhubani, Saharsa Supaul, Shekhpura,Siwan, Araria, Kishanganj, Purnea, Madhepura andKhagaria, Begusarai, Saran, Lakheesarai)• Numbers of Blocks Affected: 203• No of Panchayats 2,252• Numbers of Villages affected: 8,197• Numbers of marooned Villages: 357• Life loss: 419 [Govt. sources]• Cattle Loss: 1,377• Population affected: 15.7 million• Houses damaged: 394,900 estimated value isRs.4,502.4 million• Total Area affected: 1.85 million hectaresDISTRICT DETAILS :No of DistrictsNo of Blocks affectedSitamarhi17Nalanda9Darbhanga18Seohar4Saharsa6Muzafarpur8East Champaran19West Chamaparan7Saran6Siwan5Gopalganj7Samastipur9Madhubani19Supaul8Madhepura3Patna4Katihar10Khagaria6Begusarai4Shekhpura6Lakhisarai4Purnea8Araria9Kissanganj7

(DAMAGE BY SECTOR)Lifeline and critical facilities: Estimated Value of damage to public properties – Rs. 2,980.5 millionAgriculture:• Cropped area affected: .8 million hectares• Estimated value of crop loss: Rs. 3,963.7 million• Standing crops in 0.2 million hectares worth 1,730 million. have beenaffected so far.Road And Communication:National Highway 57 has a long breach, National Highway 104 has breachesat 19 places and National Highway 77 has breaches at 40 places. The roadcommunication to Sitamarhi, which was completely cut off, has been restoredand the repair work is still continuing. Heavy loss had occurred in road networkespecially in north Bihar due to the recent floods affecting the relief work.Road, power and communication infrastructure had become dysfunctional in Madhubani, Darbhanga and Sitamarhi districtsbut now in some places the road communication has been restored.UNV doctors assisting with medical helpHealth Facilities: There are increase in the number of diarrhea, kala azar andmany cases of snakebites in the flood-affected districts. Health infrastructureshave been damaged. Some of the PHCs require live saving drugs like ORS, Antisnake venom, Anti rabies, Drugs for fever, cough and cold. as reported byDistrict Magistrates. Now around 560 health centers and 281 veterinary centersare operating. At least 18 people have died due to Kala azar disease in EastChamparan district of north Bihar. Waterlogged houses and cattle-sheds arelikely to emerge as a breeding ground for the kala-azar vector and sand fly’.Currently 2 UNV doctors are providing health assistance to Sitamarhi/Darbhanga DistrictPucca houses damagedShelter:Flood had its severe impact on the habitat and shelter sector. A total of houses394,900 have been damaged. More damage is expected once the floodwaterrecedes from the water logged and submerged places. Most Pucca houses havebeen washed away near the line of breaches. There is very little flood proofing inthe existing structures.PROJECTED EVOLUTION/SECONDARY THREATS:• Sanitation will be a major problem for these areas as most of the peopleare residing on the roads and embankments. Temporary toilets arerequired 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 maycontinue till October.• ORS packets are not adequate for the affected areas. Most of the doctors are busy in health camps and may needmore doctors with medicines after receding of the water. There is a need of bleaching powders, lime and halogentablets immediately for the 24 districts. Threat of epidemic as water recedes• Health problem will be a major threat to these areas. Immunization istotally stopped after 2ndJuly 2002 due to communication disruptionand people are on the road.• Fodder will be a major problem for these areas after few days, andthere is chance of epidemic among the animals due to stagnation ofwater.
There will be no Crop in all affected areas before October. Here most of the people are marginal farmer oragricultural labour, they may not get any opportunity for their livelihood. Migration cannot be ruled out.• Food is required for the affected population for next three months, as government has already declared that eachfamily will get one-quintal wheat and 250/- per month, the existing stock is inadequate.• Fuel will be a major problem in terms of availability when wheat is distributed.• Drinking water is a major problem those who are residing on the road and embankments.• Most families are having cattle’s and there is no separate space for the cattle’s, vaccination and fodder. Govt. supportis not adequate. • Apprehension of eye flu and diarrhea in the affected areas cannot be ruled.NATIONAL RESPONSE: Army in Relief• 3 Army helicopters and military boats had been engaged for Reliefand Rescue. 29,397 food packets have been airdropped and 154,744packets by military boats and 1,918.15 quintals of other materialshave been air dropped in Seohar, Darbhanga, Madhubani since 24.07.2002• Govt. has provided polythene for 40,000 families• Facing a grim flood situation in 24 of 38 districts, Bihar has requestedthe federal government to release Rs. 2 billion from the NaturalCalamity Relief Fund to speed up relief and rescue work.• With the flood water receding in many places spraying of DDT isunderway and more is required in view of Kala azar cases being reported.• Centre has announced to provide 25,000tonnes of food grains free of cost to the state for distribution among the floodaffected people• State govt. asked for Rs 6,000 millions at once from the Centre.•The Central Team has already visited Bihar [22nd to 25thof this month] for damage assessment.•CRF has released Rs.600 millions to Bihar and an amount of Rs .2 millions, to each district for medicalhealth has been allotted as part of Central Relief Fund.• Bihar is facing an acute shortage of SAG [Sodium antimony Gluconate ] regarded as the first line Kala Azar drug inIndia has asked the federal government for immediate supply of 25,000 vials of SAG.ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES: Relief Camps• Action has been taken to assess the drug position of each district toidentify any health problem. Temporary shelters are beingmobilized for the evacuees.• The relief and rehabilitation department have already allocated Rs.160 millions for relief work. Government flood control camps havebeen activated/ Police outposts have also been activated. Reliefstocks available at Panchayat & block head quarters. People’srepresentatives are busy in distribution of relief materials. ReliefCamps: 764 functioning.• Bihar, Chief Minister have directed the district collectors to assessthe damage and Indira Awas Yojana houses to be constructed forBPL house holds. The dependents of each people killed will be paid Rs. 50,000 as compensation.OPERATIONS / MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES:o 7,112 boats been deployed; three helicopters were used for air dropping. 19 Powerboat had been sent to the affecteddistricts and some army boats had been deployed.o Gratuitous Relief as Wheat distributed: 161,367.10 Qtls.o Readymade food distributed: 7,446.94 Qtlso Matchboxes: 151,458 [nos]o Candles: 179,973 [nos]o Polythene Sheets [distributed]: 3,790,49 metres.o Kerosene. Oil distributed: 79,583 litres.
Cash Dole: Rs.66.2 milliono Mobile healths Units are functioning at certain sites in Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.o State government has provided tents to around 5,000 families only and unable to mobilize more temporary shelters.They are requesting all developmental agencies to provide tents and polythene. Temporary shelter is priority need ofthe state.CO-ORDINATION:On 28.082002 the 4th coordination meeting was held in the Relief Commissioner’s Office, Govt. of Bihar, Patna which wasattended by the Deputy Secretary & under secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation department along with representatives fromUNICEF, Indian Red Cross, State Director, Care India, Jharkhand Branch & CENCORED Patna. Gradually more and moreorganizations are now interested to attend the meeting for supporting the government of Bihar to tackle the unprecedentedflood situation. The Deputy Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation, Govt.of Bihar chaired the meeting and shared the presentsituation and requirement to fulfill the basic needs of the flood affected population. He also assured to provide all possiblesupport to agencies involved in relief and rehabilitation work. Discussions were made on agencies to work on different districtson various interventions. . CARE India suggested intervening in Khagaria and Madhubani district and necessary plan of actionwill be decided soon. Then Under Secretary, Relief and Rehab briefed the participants on UNDP’s support in the flood-affected areas along with setting up of state/District control room. He also briefed about the efforts taken by the state govt. totackle the flood situations. According to him people have started going back to their own village as water has receded in thevillages.On 4.09.2002 the 5thCoordination meeting was held in the Relief Commissioner’s Office, Govt. of Bihar, Patna, which wasattended, by the Deputy Secretary & Under Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation dept. along with representatives fromUNICEF, Indian Red Cross, UNDP, CONCERN-Orissa, BGVS- Patna, EFICOR-Delhi, CEDev- Patna, CENCORED- Patna,Action Aid- Patna. The Deputy Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation, Govt. of Bihar chaired the meeting and shared the presentsituation. The issues discussed upon:o Relief Commissioner’s office support to agencies involved in relief and rehabilitation work.o Organizations present in the meeting were asked to share their strategy and area of intervention with reliefcommissioner’s office and similarly consult District Magistrate for selection of Block /G.P/ Village level interventions.o Participant to avoid duplication of efforts and suggested organizational mapping of intervention. It was also discussedthat local NGOs in consultation with the district Magistrate should initiate district level coordination.o Then Under secretary, Relief and Rehab briefed about the efforts under taken by the state govt. to tackle the floodsituations and apprise all participant about the gaps in intervention.o Considering the large scale devastation in housing sector, Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary relief andrehabilitation suggested organization to undertake construction of temporary houses with water/fire resistanttechnology which has been introduced by HUDCO and is suitable for flood affected areas. Capacity building ofcommunity through training programme on such technology was suggested by different organization.o View was shared that the water has started receding and population residing on the embankment are going back totheir villages. Cracks have started appearing on the silted areas due to lack of water in few areas.o UNICEF representative proposed flood preparedness training programme at district level on vaccination andalternate housing technology.oStandard IEC material on hygiene promotion and sanitation as flood preparedness/awareness was also suggested.
Items mobilized so far are :AgencyPolythene/tarpaulins/ tentsPVCRollFamilypacketMedicineBleachingpowder(kg)ClothsVolunteers/HumanresourcesAny otherUNICEF15 millionHalogenTablets forChlorination36,000 kg[1,420bags]IndianRedCross Society5,000polythenes, 45tents, 38 rubberboats2,400sqfeets4,000families2,000childrenUNDP3,500 familieshave beenalready given toSamastipurdistrict10 lifejacketshave been givento DM Khagariafrom UNDPMedicinehave beendistributedthroughmobilehealthcamps inSamastipurandDarbhangafor 20,000populationIT facilitator,Logistic andother HumanResources forimmediateassessment, 2Doctors aresupporting thedistrictadministrationwithmedicines.One set ofComputerto StateControlroom withinternetfacilityCENCOREDVolunteers forreliefdistributionSatya SaiSeva SamitiFoodpacketsORS,HalogenClothesEFFICORFood for1,000families.Govt. ofOrissa[ThroughUNDP Orissa]1,000 communityTentsSamadhanHealthcamps atMadhubandistrictSwadhinamAssessing thelooms forrevivalPRIORITY NEEDS: Shelter on Embankments• The immediate need is dry food and baby food• Polythene- as there are so many people taking shelter on embankments, railtracks and roadsides.• Drinking water is a major problem for these areas especially for those who areliving on the embankment and roads.• Sanitation is a problem for women.• Cattle feed and veterinary camps / vaccination Programme in various places.•Temporary shelter and family kits.• Inadequate health care facilities are available for the evacuees and somecares to be taken for specific diseases like Kalajar ,Diarrheoa.• All schools are closed and no educational activities for last one month
Health Secretary has stated that they have stocks of medicines to cope with the floods, with the exception of anti-snake venom sera.• The government has requested for kala azar drugs be supplied by any agency as they are facing an acute shortageof SAG [Sodium antimony Gluconate ] regarded as the first line Kala Azar drug in India.• ClothesGAP ANALYSISSectorItems RequiredProvidedBalance RequirementHousing: 335,809house damaged –Temporary Shelter for1,510,855 population• 670,000 polythenesheets250, 000 polythene sheets1000 community tentsfrom Orissa Govt.20,000 polythene sheets• Boats for reliefdistributionandevacuation6902[mechanized,country, govt. and privateboats]More rubber power boat is requiredfor relief distribution as the water flowis increasing at Khagaria andBegusarai dist.Rescue and reliefdistribution• Life jacket forvolunteers, those whoare involved for rescueand relief distribution10 Jackets90 life jackets• Safe drinking waterNot adequateHalogen tab., mobile water purifiers,tube well at embankments• Bleaching powder1,00,000 Kg8,000 bagsDrinking water for15.32 millionpopulation• Tube wellArranged locally20000 tube wells for camp site andthe embankments, roads, railwaytracksSanitation: 1510855people atembankments /roads/ railway tracks• Sanitation facilitiesNot adequateUrgent need as people are living onthe embankments and contaminatingthe areasFood• Baby food/supplementarynutrition for thechildrenNot suppliedBaby food required for more than 5.4million children for three months• ORSAvailable in PHCs50,00,000 packets• Life saving drugsAvailable in PHCs andfundprovidedforprocurementAnti snake venom, anti rabies, ARI,Fever, skin infection, Kalajar.DiarrheaHealth• Doctors forinaccessible areasHealth camp at 10 areaspatient checked 900.Clothes• Clothes7,300 piecesChildren and WomenEducation: 7,967school buildings aredamaged• Study materials/ booksfor students• Temporary schoolbuildingAgriculture: 1.25million hac. crop landaffected• Short duration cropseeds• Support for removal ofsand
Support for Pre-Rabiand RabiLivestock: 920cattle’s lostAffected 24.49 Lakh• Support for people wholost their cattle• Fodder for theremaining animals• Vaccination of theanimals & vetenarycareVillages surroundedwith water – 3191• Cooked Food / DryStuffs• Health Camps• Safe drinking waterSupply of Cooked Food / Dry Stuffsfor the marooned persons withadequate Drinking water and Healthcamps with Medicines.Achievements till date : UNDP Support•UNDP is supporting the local administration in providing temporaryshelter and other essentials. UNDP is assisting the Relief Commissioner,Bihar in setting up of a strong coordinating System with the help ofCoordination Specialist, Information Technology and ManagementInformation System support. OCHA and Govt. of Norway Grant are beingused for provision of temporary roofing and emergency drinking waterprovision for population living on roads, embankments and railway tracks.NUNV livelihood and Habitat Specialist have assessed the need andpossibility of a recovery programme. 2 NUNV doctors are providing healthassistance to Sitamarhi / Darbhanga Districts.• UNICEF has mobilized 1,420 bags of bleaching powders to health dept. for onward transmission to districts.ORS packetsare not adequate for the affected areas.• IRCS, Patna is reviewing the relief operation and condition of health services in the flood-affected areas. In most of theplaces the Indian Red Cross is supporting government for relief distribution. So far 5000 Polythenes have already beendistributed 4000 family packs, 60 boats, 150 tents and 500 packets Atta for 500 families• USAID and Concern World Wide have shown their interest and will conduct a preliminary assessment. Swiss Red Crossteam is here for assessment of the situation.• UNDP has provided polythene for 3,500 families at Samastipur and 1,000 community tents from Govt. of Orissa havealready been supplied to Bihar.•One set of Computer with all accessories have been provided to State control room for database and information sharing.• Sahara India Parivar has distributed 3100 polythene sheets, 3,300 sarees and dhotis to the flood affected population.Future Plan of action:• UNICEF, Bihar will provide 30,000 polythene sheets .100,000 kg bleaching powder, 500,000 halogen tablets have alreadybeen provided to health department for water chlorination.•IRCS is planning to provide 50,000 family kits to the affected areas.• UNDP is planning to support strengthening the coordination system at state and district levels. It has discussed its futureplan of action for Recovery Programme wherein 30 model villages will be established for shelter and livelihoodinterventions. Representative from UNDP shared the strategy of the relief operation. Immediate relief operation has beenplanned for children food need, temporary shelter, Health and Veterinary camps and survival kits for the flood affectedpopulace UNDP and UNICEF have committed to provide support for strengthening the State Relief Control Room. Thiswould enhance the:o Communication Systemo Developing database system and vulnerability mapping for decision makingo Regular updating of information on the website.UNDP discussed about its plan to upgrade control room in five most affected district of Bihar with a view to strengthen theDistrict Disaster Information Management database. UNDP has requested IRCS for providing IT Volunteers for the aboveinitiative. IRCS would confirm the deputation of the volunteers soon.•Indian Red Cross Society will provide medicine worth Rs.15 lac in 11 districts and 10,000 family kits worth Rs. 1,500 isplanned to be provided.
Situation: Bihar Flood CONCERN is planning to provide immediate basic shelter and water needs for 2,000 flood affected families, and Items tobe distributed are ORS, Halogen Tabs. , Polythene sheets, Jerry Cans, Rope and Kitchen Utensil.• EFICOR has selected Dhanoli block of Darbanga district for flood interventions. They have surveyed 20-25 villages andare planning to provide different kinds of support to 4,000 families.o Food support for at least 2 weeks will be provided.o As per present need assessment, people have requested for blankets instead of plastic sheetso Water and Sanitation Programme will be undertaken – 15 days medical camps will be organized and hygienekits will be provided.o 10-hand pumps renovation in each village will be done.CE-Devo Planning to take-up construction of houses using locally available indigenous housing materials like bambooand grasses in Darbhanga District.o Water quality monitoring will be done for water bodies and shared with govt. department for furthersanitation Programme.Action Aid, Patna:o Will organize health camp in Kusareswar, Kiratpur blocks of Darbhanga district and would provide medicinefor Kalazar.

The Flood Mitigation system for india.

During the flood event, four decision-supporting systems are the required tasks for flood mitigation center. They are the flood forecasting system, the real-time monitoring for flood scenario system, the flood warning system, and the emergency response system. Based on these tasks, the flood mitigation grid was formed. the application and service. the system is responsible for building grid resources and varieties of platforms. Network, storage, and computer are the key resources to form the Cyber-environment and the data grid, computing grid. To enrich the pervasive computing capability in the flood Cyber-environment, the technologies that support real-time communication, remote-taking sensor data, and advanced visualization are incorporated. Access Grid technology has been used for real-time communication for group-to-group interactions across the Grid. The development integrates the modern video codecs, such as MPEG4 and H.264, into the video program. Hence, it is able to do the high-quality video conference. In the sensor network technology,the embedded system and worked with hardware companies to layout the necessary boards to collect the field river and reservoirs data for flood monitoring. The embedded system is targeted to be remote-controlled via IPv6 and IPv4. All the data, including video, audio and data from data logger, are collected real-time and archived to be analyzed by domain knowledge experts.

 

The structure of the Grid application system could be depicted as a three-level architecture based on the functions it provides. They are the fabric service level to connect facilities such as network, computing, and storages; the grid platform level developed by Middleware; and many kinds of application in the grid application level. And the main categories of the grid application level could be divided as the data grid to acquire and transfer the distributed hydraulic data swiftly; the computing grid to apply distributed high-performance computing resources; the sensor network to get the hydrological scenario of the river through remote monitoring images; and the Access Grid to communicate among relevant members for the mitigation policy by holding a multi-users video and data conference easily and smoothly. The job of flood forecasting couples the application of Data Grid and Computing Grid, while the job of dealing with emergency situations resulting from floods might couple the sensor network to assess the flood and hazard, and the Access Grid to have the consultative conference about policy decision.

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gyandotcom

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