Maharashtra Floods and Landslides

Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) is constantly assessing the situation through its local member Dr. Ambedkar Sheti Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha (ASVSS). The current situation is summarised below.

Background

Heavy Monsoon rainfall in western India has caused widespread damage and triggered flash floods and several landslides in parts of Maharashtra state.

Incessant rain over the last 24 hours has led to devastating floods in parts of Maharashtra, with three districts flooded and two districts facing a flood-like situation. This is the heaviest spell of rain in the state in July in 40 years. The Navy has been roped in for rescue and evacuation. Several teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) too have been deployed for rescue operations in the Konkan region. While Ratnagiri, Raigad, Kolhapur districts are flooded, Sangli and Amravati are facing a flood-like situation.

A total of 100 bodies have been retrieved from the debris till now from landslides
in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Satara districts, 22 persons remain missing and 35 injured persons are under treatment.

More than 50 per cent area of the coastal town of Chiplun in Ratnagiri, around 250 km from Mumbai and having a population of over 70,000 has got submerged in flood waters.

Government Response in the current situation in flood affected areas

• On civil authorities’ request, 7 Naval Flood Rescue Teams from Mumbai deployed to Ratnagiri & Raigad districts. One Seaking 42C Helicopter from Mumbai deployed for aerial reconnaissance at Poladpur/Raigad
• NRDF teams are engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected Kolhapur
• NDRF team is carrying out rescue, relief operations in flood-affected Maharashtra’s Chiplun. Four additional NDRF teams are expected to arrive to Kolhapur
• Village Disaster Management Plan Committee (VDMC) has been given the task of displacement process and ensure regular check-up of COVID patients, depending on the severity of the symptoms, special arrangements shall me made
• People to evacuate themselves to safer places within 12 hours from the areas which are marked as red zones

• 

• 

HAI’s immediate plans to save lives and restore normalcy (Prioritizing the unmet needs)

• Establish at least three community kitchens serving cooked food to the displaced population
• Provide at least a week’s dry ration kit to the returnee population
• Hygiene kits along with Covid-19 safety kits including sanitary napkins for women and adolescent girls, sanitizers, masks, gloves, toothpastes, soaps etc
• Deployment of volunteers to ensure adherence with Covid Appropriate Behaviour among IDPS, within and outside relief camps
• Arranging feed and fodder for surviving cattle and small livestock (goats and sheep)
• Arranging drinking water and installing water filters in the existing handpumps to ensure safe drinking water
• Disinfecting using bleaching powder and sanitizing flood affected areas after the flood water recedes to avoid water borne diseases ASVSS trained trainer supporting flood affected people in Akiwat, Shirol Dist. Kolhapur, Maharashtra
• Setting up temporary isolation centres for people showing signs of Covid19
• Medicines for COVID-19 positive patients required which includes balm, steamer, Itchguard cream etc. for two weeks’ in 21 villages
• Providing interim shelter and NFI support to IDPs not getting shelter in relief camps with focus on nomadic population
• Carrying out drone-based post-disaster damage & loss assessment

Long term plans

• Livelihood restoration support to farmers and the families having lost their family members
• Community based disaster preparedness

Budget required for initial relief activities: INR 30 lakhs