The change in the course of the river Kosi after 200 years in Bihar has submerged half the state. Over 55 people have died and 35 lakh have been rendered homeless and it is getting worse by the day.
India is now getting set for one of its biggest evacuations ever as lakhs of people remain completely cut off for weeks.
Although rescue and relief operations are on, clearly they have not been able to match the enormity of what the Prime Minister has described as a national calamity.
Only 2,500 food packets are being distributed in a day. In the last one week, only 46,000 food packets were distributed. And to make matters worse the Met office has forecast heavy rain in the next 48 hours.
So could the commission have averted this disaster in Bihar?
“Bihar has highest flood vulnerability. So, it’s known that its flood prone. But what has happened has taken all by surprise by the sheer magnitude,” said K M Singh, member, National Disaster Management Authority in Delhi.
Those working on pre and post disaster management planning argue that India’s approach has changed dramatically since the act in 2005 and miracles should not be expected overnight.
While in principle that is true, at least in this case there were enough indications that the embankments were breached. But all warnings were ignored.
Since the Kosi river flows from Nepal the fact that embankments there were silted and breached was just overlooked.
In this case the commission was unable to get the government to pressurise Nepal and have Indian experts monitor the river.
In 2005, an agreement was reached with Nepal and a joint working group set up with engineers from both sides. But nothing happened.
Even after the disaster, if you are looking for information their website is the last place. It has more data on a ministerial conference.
“There are some gaps no doubt. But we have done some good work also. Last year, the biggest ever floods were in Bihar only. But casualties were much less. Of course there is heaps improvement required, but at least now we are better prepared and its not what it used to be,” said P G Dhar Chakraborty, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management, Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced a INR10 billion ($228.7 million) flood relief fund for stricken Bihar, the Press Trust of India reported.
Singh called the floods a national calamity, PTI said, and released 125,000 tons of grain. Around 50 have been killed while more than a million people have been affected by the floods in Bihar, an Indian state in the northeast.
The United States has pledged an assistance of Rs 400,000 ($100,000) for the victims of the Bihar floods.
Making this announcement David Mulford, US ambassador to India said that US contribution of $100,000 would be made to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Mulford offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster and his government’s willingness to provide further support as needed.
Please contribute towards humanity. Enquire with your local banks/Indian Banks/Banks with your NRE Account on how you can do your bit to help Bihar!
The change in the course of the river Kosi after 200 years in Bihar has submerged half the state. Over 55 people have died and 35 lakh have been rendered homeless and it is getting worse by the day.
India is now getting set for one of its biggest evacuations ever as lakhs of people remain completely cut off for weeks.
Although rescue and relief operations are on, clearly they have not been able to match the enormity of what the Prime Minister has described as a national calamity.
Only 2,500 food packets are being distributed in a day. In the last one week, only 46,000 food packets were distributed. And to make matters worse the Met office has forecast heavy rain in the next 48 hours.
So could the commission have averted this disaster in Bihar?
“Bihar has highest flood vulnerability. So, it’s known that its flood prone. But what has happened has taken all by surprise by the sheer magnitude,” said K M Singh, member, National Disaster Management Authority in Delhi.
Those working on pre and post disaster management planning argue that India’s approach has changed dramatically since the act in 2005 and miracles should not be expected overnight.
While in principle that is true, at least in this case there were enough indications that the embankments were breached. But all warnings were ignored.
Since the Kosi river flows from Nepal the fact that embankments there were silted and breached was just overlooked.
In this case the commission was unable to get the government to pressurise Nepal and have Indian experts monitor the river.
In 2005, an agreement was reached with Nepal and a joint working group set up with engineers from both sides. But nothing happened.
Even after the disaster, if you are looking for information their website is the last place. It has more data on a ministerial conference.
“There are some gaps no doubt. But we have done some good work also. Last year, the biggest ever floods were in Bihar only. But casualties were much less. Of course there is heaps improvement required, but at least now we are better prepared and its not what it used to be,” said P G Dhar Chakraborty, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management, Delhi.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced a INR10 billion ($228.7 million) flood relief fund for stricken Bihar, the Press Trust of India reported.
Singh called the floods a national calamity, PTI said, and released 125,000 tons of grain. Around 50 have been killed while more than a million people have been affected by the floods in Bihar, an Indian state in the northeast.
The United States has pledged an assistance of Rs 400,000 ($100,000) for the victims of the Bihar floods.
Making this announcement David Mulford, US ambassador to India said that US contribution of $100,000 would be made to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Mulford offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster and his government’s willingness to provide further support as needed.
Please contribute towards humanity. Enquire with your local banks/Indian Banks/Banks with your NRE Account on how you can do your bit to help Bihar!