Kosi Flood in India ( Bihar) - a national calamity

1. A National Disaster

2. Kosi – The Sorrow River
THE KOSI- A part of Ganges, Brahmaputra
& Meghna riverine system travels through
Nepal before entering the plains of Bihar.
Why so dangerous?
 Young Morphology
 Steep gradient
 Ability to quickly change course
 Leaves behind heavy silt and debris which
are infertile.
It has been causing huge damages to
Northern Districts of Bihar almost every
year

3. 2008 Floods – an unprecedented tragedy
Unlike earlier floods in 2008 the River
itself changed the path that too up-to
several kilometres.
Its Magnitude- Too large compared
to earlier floods.(more than 2.5 lakh
houses destroyed)
Submerged Area- Much higher
comparatively.(crops in 1.06 lakh
hectare wiped off)
Intensity of water forces- huge (flow
of water through the breach went up to
1.9 lakh cubic feet per second)
No. of persons directly affected-
Much higher
No. of deaths- cannot be assessed

4. 2008 floods- Fact file
 The worst affected districts: Supaul,
Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria, Purnia &
Katihar
 866 villages destroyed - India Today
 Minimum Rs. 10,000 crore loss - India
Today
 More than 2000 camps are needed for the
displaced - India Today
 As per Sahara TV, who have special
correspondent in the affected area, it is
feared that even one lakh people might have
lost their lives.

5. 2008 floods- The scale of challenge
The magnitude of destruction caused by this flood is higher than Hurricane
Katrina, Super Cyclone and Tsunami
The rehabilitation is going to take longer than what it took to recover from
the aftermaths of Tsunami
 Lakhs of people still trapped and have to be evacuated.
This Flood has resulted in one of the biggest ever evacuations of people in
history.
About 1.2 crore persons have to be rehabilitated-(http://www.igovernment.in)
Lakhs of people are lacking food, medicine,shelter and drinking water.

6. 2008 floods- The scale of challenge
As per estimates more than 3.5 mn
people have to live under temporary
arrangements. Assuming Rs 60 as
per person per day cost for food,
shelter, clothing, medicine and
water, it will require 21.00 cr per day.
For 75 days a sum of Rs 1575 Cr is
required just for survival.
Add: Cost of rehabilitation!

7. 2008 floods- Some reactions
“The Kosi Flood is nothing but a
national Calamity”- Prime Minister, Dr.
Manmohan Singh.
“The floods have pushed Bihar back to
50 years” -Rameshwar Prasad, a local
historian
“Places where crops were standing 15
days ago is 12-14 feet deep under water
and the current of water is comparable to
Richter 5 of earthquake intensity”-
Chandan Singh- An environmentalist &
Flood volunteer

8. Caught in Flood… The human condition
Losing all belongings at once
Living inside the water
Taking shelter on the trees
Acute shortage of food and clothing
Witnessing death of family members, and
leaving the dead bodies in same water
Health hazard: drinking the same flood water
where dead bodies of human & animals are
floating

9. The Struggle to survive

10. The worst is yet to come …
Historically Kosi River has been discharging water in much higher
volumes in September and October so it is feared that it will get worse
Once the flood water starts pacifying there will be out break of
epidemics.
Diseases like Diarrhoea, Cholera, other Gastro intestinal disorders &
infections can cause huge damage to human lives.
Restoring public Infrastructure would be a Herculean task
Loss of material belongings difficult to replenish
The worst affected would be Women and Children

11. What needs to be done?
Macro Level: The Central Government has to take up the matter with
Nepal and perhaps other international bodies for permanent solutions.
Here as an individual we have a limited role to play
Meso Level: Various state government/Other agencies should work in
coordination to take up preventive measures.
Here, as citizens, we need to ensure that the government takes the task
seriously. Write letters to government, media. Don't let them sleep!
Micro Level: Main focus is on relief measures.
Here as individuals we can play larger roles by directly or indirectly
participating in relief, either by contributing our time and/or other
resources
A tragedy like this outrages us and makes us ask ourselves: What can
we do to reduce the suffering of the displaced? The hope lies in our
sense of responsibility for responding to this tragedy, which though
situated in a region, is essentially human.
If all of us contribute in our own ways we will overcome this calamity!

12. How You can make a difference?
Pray. Pray To Almighty for all those who are no more. More importantly,
pray for all those who are alive and suffering the ordeal
Collect/purchase clothes, medicines, sleeping mats, tents, food grains,
milk powder, polythene sheets, cooking utensils and donate them
There are several channels you can rely upon. If time permits, the best
way is to directly approach the victims and help them out
 Collect money and Donate to any organization which you believe is doing
good work
Ask your employer for corporate/bulk donations. We can share one or two
days salaries for those who have lost everything they earned in years
Most Important: please never doubt how your contribution can make a
difference? Its our little contributions, coupled with heartfelt blessing, is
going to yield
“No one can do everything but everyone can do something”

13. How to contribute?
You can contribute. Some of the options could be :
Option one: Write a cheque or draft to 'Chief Minister Relief Fund’, payable at
Patna. Put your phone number, name and address on the back of the cheque.
Deposit the cheque to the nearest SBI drop box or send it to “Chief Minister
Relief Fund, Chief Minister Secretariat, 4, Deshratna Marg, Patna- 800001”. For
Electronic transfer of fund send money to A/C No. 10839124928, SBI Patna
Secretariat Branch.
Option two: Red Cross India, Contact, Indian Red Cross Society, North of
Gandhi Maidan, Patna – 800001 Phone No: 0612 -2201035/6/7; 2226267. You
can directly send cloths and other materials to the above address just
mentioning that it is meant for flood victims.
Option three: Donating for Bihar flood victims to the Prime Minister Relief
Fund: Details available on: http://pmindia.nic.in/relief.htm
Option Four:You can donate to Oxfam by calling in on [phone] or by
sending a check in the name of Oxfam Trust, addressed to Oxfam India, Plot
Number 1, 2nd Floor(above Sujan Mohinder Hospital), New Friends Colony, New
Delhi - 110065 (www.oxfam.org)

14. How to contribute?
Option five:You can Send donations to Prayaas. (www.prayaas.org) Contact No:
91-80-28441463, E-mail: [email protected] & [email protected].
Mention flood relief and your name in remarks section. M/S Prayaas, Current
Account No. : 10447347087 ,SBI, Indiranagar, Bangalore
Option six: You can send Donations to Goonj H.O Delhi-J-93, Sarita Vihar, New
Delhi- 76 Tel.- 011-26972351, 41401216 E-mail- [email protected],
[email protected], Web Site- http://www.goonj.org cloths and other
materials can be directly sent to their office
Option seven:Donate to care today. Draw cheques or draft in favour of “Care
Today A/c Bihar flood relief fund” and send to care today, Hamilton House, A-1
Connaught Place New Delhi-110001, Ph- 011-23314216,23315801 e-mail-
[email protected]
Option eight: Many other local bodies/Associations can be contacted who are
involved in relief works. If you are satisfied with their modus-operandi you can directly
donate to them
Option nine: Make a visit/send a team to affected areas and directly help the
people
“Every Rupee can make a difference” Issued in the general interest please
forward this message to all your friends and known

15. If we don't,
then who will?