Rescue and Relief Operations in Flood Affected Areas of Northern India

On the basis of available information till yesterday evening, following is the update on rescue and relief operations in the states of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi:

1.  Uttarakhand

As per the reports received from the State Government due to continuous rainfall in the region during the month of June, 2013, severe damage to life and property was caused in several locations in different parts of Uttarakhand.

The extent of damage as reported by the State Government is as under :

Relief and Restoration Measures:

 

• The search, rescue and relief operations are being carried out with the help of Helicopters from Army, Air force, NDRF, ITBP, SSB and State Government.
• 22 helicopters of Army, Air Force and civil have been pressed into rescue & relief work.
• There is no shortage of food material. However, Department of Food & Public distribution and Ministry of Petroleum have been requested on June 18,2013 to consider the additional demand of State Government for 100 MT of rice and 60 KL of Kerosene Oil at BPL rates.
• Essential commodities including food packets are being air dropped.
• 13 teams of NDRF consisting of 422 personnel along with the necessary paraphernalia have been deployed for assisting State Government for search and rescue operations.  Their position is as follows –

Ø   Five teams (174 personnel) are deployed for rescue and relief operations in different affected areas of Rudraprayag District.

ØThree teams (89 personnel) are deployed in affected area of Haridwar for rescue and relief operations.

ØOne Team (33 personnel) deployed at Guptkashi for rescue & relief operations.

ØOne Team (29 personnel) deployed at Lakshar for rescue & relief operations.

ØOne Team (40 personnel) deployed at Gaurikund for rescue & relief operations.

ØOne Team (45 personnel) deployed at Dehradun.

ØOne Team (12 personnel) deployed at Jolly Grant Airport.

• 51 persons were rescued by NDRF teams in Uttarakhand yesterday.

• Daily meetings under the Chairmanship of Home Secretary are being held  to review the situation and the relief and rescue measures being undertaken in the State of Uttarakhand.

• Senior Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs are in constant touch with concerned senior officers of the Government of Uttarakhand for extending the required support and assistance.

• As per Indian Metrological Department (IMD), cumulative rainfall of Uttarakhand is reported 385.1 mm actual against normal rainfall of 71.3 mm, which is 440% excess  during the south-west monsoon period of 1^st June 2013 to 18^th June 2013.

• Prime Minister visited the affected area and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 2.00 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased from Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. During the visit of the affected areas in the State, the Prime Minister announced a rehabilitation package of Rs. 1000.00 crore from Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

• A High Level central team headed by the Union Home Secretary visited the affected area on 19.06.2013 and reviewed the tasks to be performed by central agencies and the State Government officials, for speedy rescue and relief of stranded persons.
• One team of  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and one team of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) have been placed at Kedarnath and Gaurigaon to assist in the evacuation both from Kedarnath and Gaurigaon. Evacuation operations were carried out on 19^th June using helicopters till the weather deteriorated.
• One team of ITBP operated between Govindghat and Joshimath and evacuated pilgrims stuck there.
• In the meeting taken by Home Secretary with NDRF, ITBP and State Government officers, it was decided to deploy helicopters at Ghangharia to evacuate stranded pilgrims.
• It was also decided that ITBP would launch teams from Pithoragarh to  all the vallies in the district to see if the villagers or stranded persons require any assistance.

1.      Himachal Pradesh

As per the reports received from the State Government due to continuous rainfall in the region during the month of June, 2013, severe damage to life and property was caused in several locations in different parts of Himachal Pradesh.

• The extent of damage as reported by the State Government is as under :

Relief and Restoration Measures:

 

• The search, rescue and relief operations are being carried out with the help of Helicopters from Army, Air force, NDRF, ITBP and State Government.
• There is no shortage of food material.
• Two teams of NDRF consisting of 61 personnel along with the necessary paraphernalia are assisting State Government in the rescue & relief operation.
• Daily meetings under the Chairmanship of Home Secretary are being held  to review the situation and the relief and rescue measures being undertaken in the State.
• Senior Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs are in constant touch with concerned senior officers of the Government of Himachal Pradesh for extending the required support and assistance.   .

2.                  Delhi

Relief and Restoration Measures:

• As per  Central Water Commission (CWC), the River Yamuna at Delhi Railway Bridge in Delhi is now flowing in HIGH Flood Situation.  Yesterday at 1500 hrs it was flowing at a level of 207.00 m with rising trend which is 2.17 m above its Danger Level of 204.83 m and 0. 49 m below its previous HFL of 207.49 m (06.09.1978).
• The NCT Government has evacuated about 5000 persons from low lying areas and shifted to safer places.

• No casualty has been reported from NCT administration.

• One team of NDRF along with the necessary paraphernalia has been  deployed at Delhi Boat Club, Delhi for rescue & relief operation.

• Senior Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs are in constant touch with concerned senior officers of the Government of Delhi for extending the required support and assistance.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation in the States of Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi through the Control Room.