Deadly Floods Devastate Southern India
Heavy rains have led to flash floods in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh
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The Current Situation
Following a rapid assessment in some of the flood affected villages in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka; Oxfam India has decided to respond with water, sanitation and public health support to about 9,000 households in Kurnool and to about 4,000 households in Bagalkot.
More than 50 lakh men, women and children have been affected by the recent floods in southern India. Our decision to respond in Kurnool and Bagalkot comes in the wake of the realization that both these are arid regions and therefore were not well prepared for floods. In fact, till recently these areas were reeling under the impact of drought. The shock is heavy and people are now reeling under the impact of floods
But now hundreds of villages are inundated with flood water and the road links have snapped in several places. As rain water began to fill up the reservoirs, the governments of two states Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka began to release excess water from the dams. Water released from dams and heavy rains combined together to produce one of the worst floods in the history of AP and Karnataka.
Roads and communications lines to Kurnool are badly affected. Almost 80 percent of the Kurnool town (district headquarters) was under water. Floods caused due to heavy inflow of water from Tunga Bhadra Dam / Gajuladinne project also was caused by the heavy rains from September 29 to October 5, 2009 total measuring to 233.8 mm.
''There are very high chances of outbreak of diseases due to lack of safe drinking water and lack of adequate sanitation facilities in the affected areas. The toilets in the urban slums are filled with mud and water and people are forced to opt for open defecation that is polluting the environment,. It may lead to health problem if not addressed immediately,'' says Zubin Zaman, Humanitarian Response Manager, explaining Oxfam India's decision to work in the area WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).
Estimated Damage by the District Administration in Kurnool
- Total population affected is 5.20 lakh and total human life lost is 28.
- 34 Mandals are affected out of the total 54 Mandals in the district.
- A total of 160 villages and 29 wards of Kurnool Municipality Corporation are affected
- Livestock loss is 6189.
- Crop damaged is estimated in around 60,000 hectares.
- More than 6000 houses were swamped in the floods.
- Total numbers of fishermen affected were 2000 and the total damage to fisheries sector in the district is estimated to around 352.48 lakh.
People in urban slums in Kurnool town and in the affected villages in Kurnool district are staying in temporary shelters functioning in schools and colleges,. The Government has set up a few relief camps but even they lack basic amenities such as proper toilets (numbers and hygiene conditions) and drinking water facilities.