2008 Indian floods

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Kosi river flood was the worst hit flood of India in 2008 2008 Bihar floods.jpg
Kosi river flood was the worst hit flood of India in 2008

The nexus of the Bihar flood is the Kosi River's immense alluvial fan, extending some 185 km from the river's exit from the Himalayas and foothills in Nepal, down to its confluence with the Ganges in Bihar. The laws of geology and physics cause rivers to course back and forth across such fans in ephemeral channels lasting decades at most, but for flood control reasons man-made embankments endeavored to contain the Koshi within a channel along its fan's western edge. On 18 August, heavy monsoon rains caused the river to break out of this channel. It started flowing through an old channel much further east, inundating cropland and towns and villages with 1.2 million inhabitants, mostly in Bihar.

Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar met India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek his help in dealing with the "catastrophe". [9] [10] The worst affected districts included Supaul, Madhepura, north Bhagalpur, Araria, Purnia (all by the Kosi) and West Champaran (by Gandak). Relief work was carried with Indian Air Force helicopters dropping relief materials in the worst hit districts. [9]

The district magistrate of Madhepura has ordered the inhabitants of the town of Madhepura to evacuate because the water level continued to rise. Relief work was carried with Indian Air Force helicopters dropping relief materials (including 600 food packets per day) from Purnia in the worst hit districts where nearly two million persons were entrapped. [9] It is not possible to assess the magnitude of deaths or destruction, because the affected areas are totally inaccessible. Even mobile phones had stopped working, because entrapped persons cannot get their batteries charged. 150 persons were washed away in a single incident (Dainik Hindustan, Darbhanga edition). Another report says 42 people have died in the flood in Bihar. [11]

The Government of Bihar has constituted a technical committee, headed by retired engineer-in-chief of the water resource department, Nilendu Sanyal, to manage the restoration work and closure of the breach in the East Koshi afflux embankment. [11] Indian authorities were working to prevent further widening of the breach and channels would be dug to direct the water back to the main river bed. [12] However, Dainik Hindustan (Darbhanga edition) reported on Aug 28 that Indian officials were chased away by anti-social elements from the breach site in Nepal. Nepal's Defence Minister has made a statement that Nepal will repair the breach on its own, although it was not made clear when this work will be started.

Dainik Hindustan (Darbhanga edition) later sent its reporter to the site of the Kushaha breach, who reported with photographs on Sep 5 that all earlier claims by government officials of repairing the breach and of Nepalis chasing away Indian officials were utterly false reports by Indian officials, because there were thick forests on the embankment and it was not possible to reach the site before the end of August. Forest on the embankment proves that these parts of Kosi embankments were not even visited for decades. Its maintenance was the responsibility of Indian, especially Bihar's officials. The life of these embankments elapsed over two decades ago, but no effort was taken to even survey their conditions, although the Bihar government spends huge sums on the maintenance of embankments each year.

A high-level Government of Nepal team that inspected areas devastated by the flood in the Koshi River has held India responsible for the havoc. Media reports stated The devastation took place as the Indian side did not carry out repair and maintenance work on the Kosi barrage and the embankment along the river, thereby violating the Nepal-India Koshi agreement. As per the bilateral agreement of 1954 [13] [14] India is entirely responsible for repair and maintenance work and operation of the barrage. [15] There was no effort by Indian officials to repair the breach in time, although the Kosi took 15 days to make the breach.

On the other hand, Indian engineers say that anti-social elements in Nepal did not allow them to repair the embankment (Dainik Hindustan, Darbhanga edition, Aug 28). These so-called "anti-social" elements are the victims of the Kosi embankments who have been forced to bear tsunami-like floods every year; [16] they are happy that the river wants to change its course. Kosi embankments are designed to contain the Kosi in the channel of the Tilyuga River, while the old course of the Kosi lies far to the east in Purnia district. Later, Dainik Hindustan reported on Sep 5 that Indian officials could not reach the site of breach as there were forests on the embankment which were cleared in early September, hence Indian officials were lying about being prevented to repair the breach: they had not visited the site for decades due to forests in the way.

2008 Indian flood
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Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg News report on Koshi River flooding

The New York Times reported that it is the worst flood in the area in 50 years, prompting Manmohan Singh to declare a “national calamity” on 28 August. The government earmarked US$230 million in aid for the region. [17] The Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and non-governmental organizations [18] operated the biggest flood rescue operation in India in more than 50 years. Death tolls rose from Indian floods as more than 65 people had been killed in monsoon rains. [19] Villagers ate raw rice and flour mixed with polluted water in Bihar, amid hunger and diseases. Supaul district was the worst-hit by floods and surging waters swamped 1,000 square kilometres (250,000 acres) of farmlands, destroying wheat and paddy crops. [20]

September flooding

In September, even as the Bihar floods had not receded completely, the north-eastern state of Assam faced floods with rising waters from the Brahmaputra River. Kaziranga National Park, which has the highest density of rhinos in the world, was 90% submerged in water. Also, Pobitra national park in Assam was flooded. Two rhinos have died in these floods. A tiger has killed one rhino calf. In addition, four deer and one elephant have also failed to survive. The flood situation has affected estimated 2.1 million people and caused 24 deaths so far. Worst affected districts are Dhubri, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Morigaon. Thousands of people are staying in makeshift shelters with the government providing food and other essentials to the displaced people, besides healthcare facilities. [21] Indian officials say that the flooding situation could cause an epidemic, because refugees are consuming unclean water and food in shelters. [22]

Breaches in embankments have caused these floods in Assam. Four embankments on the Puthimari River, one constructed just three months ago, were breached causing the calamity. [23] Waters have breached embankments at total 54 vital locations, [21] and water levels are dangerously high in about 10 points. [22]

The Irish government is sending €350,000 (Rs. 22.3 million) in aid to the victims of the floods. [24]

Eastern Orissa state and most populous northern state Uttar Pradesh were flooded heavily causing more than 150 deaths from September 19 to September 22. [25] Army has reached in UP to rescue at least a quarter million people and food packets have been supplied to the rescued. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saharsa</span> City and municipal corporation in Bihar, India

Saharsa is a city and municipal corporation in the Saharsa District in the eastern part of the state of Bihar, India. It is situated near the eastern banks of the Kosi River. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Saharsa District and is also the Divisional headquarters of the Kosi Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosi River</span> River in Tibet, Nepal, and India

The Kosi or Koshi is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal and India. It drains the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet and the southern slopes in Nepal. From a major confluence of tributaries north of the Chatra Gorge onwards, the Kosi River is also known as the Saptakoshi for its seven upper tributaries. These include the Tamur River originating from the Kanchenjunga area in the east and Arun River and the Sun Kosi from Tibet. The Sun Koshi's tributaries from east to west are the Dudh Koshi, Likhu Khola, Tamakoshi River, Bhote Koshi and Indravati. The Saptakoshi crosses into northern Bihar, India where it branches into distributaries before joining the Ganges near Kursela in Katihar district. The Kosi is the third-largest tributary of the Ganges by water discharge after the Ghaghara and the Yamuna.

Nirmali is a town and a notified area in Supaul district in the Indian state of Bihar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 South Asian floods</span> Natural disaster impacting large numbers of people in various Asian countries

The 2007 South Asian floods were a series of floods in India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. News Agencies, citing the Indian and Bangladeshi governments, place the death toll in excess of 2,000. By 3 August, approximately 20 million had been affected and by 10 August some 30 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal had been affected by flooding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Bihar flood</span> Devastating flood in Bihar, India

The 2008 Bihar flood was one of the most disastrous floods in the history of Bihar, an impoverished and densely populated state in India. The Koshi embankment near the Indo-Nepal border broke on 18 August 2008. The river changed course and flooded areas which had not been flooded in many decades. The flood affected over 2.3 million people in the northern part of Bihar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koshi Barrage</span> Barrage in Bhimnagar, Nepal

The Koshi Barrage is a sluice across the Koshi river that carries vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between Saptari district and Sunsari district of Nepal. It is near the International border with India. It was built between 1958 and 1962 and has 56 gates. It was constructed after the Koshi Agreement was signed between the Government of Nepal and India on April 25, 1954. The barrage was designed and built by Joseph and Company Limited, India. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is roughly 3–4 miles north of the barrage.

The 2007 Bihar flood occurred in August 2007 in the east Indian state of Bihar. It was described by the United Nations as the worst flood in the living memory of Bihar. Although annual floods are common in Bihar, heavier than usual rainfall during the monsoon season that year led to increasing water levels. By 3 August, the estimated death toll was 41 people, and 48 schoolgirls were marooned in a school in the Darbhanga district. By 8 August, the flooding had impacted an estimated 10 million people in Bihar. Army helicopters delivered food packets to residents, and 180 relief camps were established. By 10 August, aid workers in Bihar reported a dramatic increase in people with diarrhea and by 11 August, flood-related deaths were still occurring. The total number of deaths recorded in the 2007 Bihar floods was more than 1,300, the highest death toll in the state since the 1987 Bihar floods, in which more than 2,500 deaths were reported.

The 2004 Bihar flood was one of the worst floods in Bihar, India in a decade. 885 people and 3272 animals had lost their lives and nearly 21.299 million human were affected. 20 districts of Bihar were affected. An alarming rise in water level due to heavy rains inundated fresh areas in Bhagalpur district, Begusarai district, Katihar district, Darbhanga district, Samastipur district and Khagaria district. According to the Central Water Commission Bagmati, Budhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Adhwara, Kosi and Mahananda rivers were flowing above the red mark at various places, while the Ganges crossed the danger mark for the first time at Farakka Barrage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floods in Bihar</span> Flooding in the Indian state of Bihar

Bihar is India's most flood-prone state, with 76% of the population of North Bihar living under the recurring threat of devastating flooding. Bihar makes up 16.5% of India's flood-affected area and contains 22.1% of India's flood-affected population. About 73.06% of Bihar's geographical area, 68,800 square kilometres (26,600 sq mi) out of 94,160 square kilometres (36,360 sq mi), is affected. Each year, floods kill many and damage livestock and other assets worth millions. In total, floods have claimed 9,500 lives since the government started publishing figures in 1979. North Bihar districts are vulnerable to at least five major flood-causing rivers during monsoon – the Mahananda, Koshi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, and Gandak rivers – which originate in Nepal. Some South Bihar districts have also become vulnerable to floods, from the Son, Punpun, and Phalgu rivers. The 2013 flood affected over 5.9 million people in 3,768 villages in 20 districts in the state. The 2017 flood affected 19 districts in North Bihar, killing 514 people and affecting over 17 million.

The Koshi embankments were built in late 1950s to retain the Kosi River which is a transboundary river between Nepal and India and is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganges. It was conceptualised during the first Bihar Government of CM Shri Babu and his deputy Anugraha Babu. According to the agreement with Nepal, the responsibility of maintaining these embankments was vested in the Government of Bihar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Disaster Response Force</span> Indian specialised force

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamala River</span> River in Nepal and Bihar

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Bihar</span> Geographic Region in Bihar, India

North Bihar is a term used for the region of Bihar, India, which lies north of the Ganga river.

This is a list of notable recorded floods that have occurred in India. Floods are the most common natural disaster in India. The heaviest southwest, the Brahmaputra, and other rivers to distend their banks, often flooding surrounding areas.

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In mid-March 2019, monsoonal downpours caused widespread flooding and landslides across South Asia.

The 2019 Bihar floods affected 13 districts of North Bihar, India, causing 130 deaths by the end of July. 1269 panchayats under 92 blocks of 13 districts of Northern Bihar were severely affected in the flood. Around 88.46 lakhs people were affected.

The 2019 Indian floods were a series of floods that affected over thirteen states in late July and early August 2019, due to excessive rains. At least 200 people died and about a million people were displaced. Karnataka and Maharashtra were the most severely affected states. People died but many were rescued with the help of the Indian Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Asian floods</span>

From January to October 2022, excessive rainfall and widespread monsoon flooding occurred in the South Asian countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It has become the region's deadliest floods since 2020, with over 4,700 people dead.

References

  1. ↑ "After Bihar, floods wreak havoc in Assam". Times of India. 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. 1 2 3 "India monsoon rains kill dozens". BBC. 10 August 2008. Archived from the original on 11 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  3. ↑ Shah Singh, Harmeet (September 23, 2008). "Flooding deaths now 2,400 in monsoon-hit India". CNN. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
  4. ↑ "42 die in Andhra, Mumbai hit due to rains". NDTV. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  5. ↑ "Incessant rains disrupt Pune-Mumbai traffic". The Times of India . 11 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  6. ↑ "Heavy rains lash Pune; rail, road traffic affected". Sify . 10 August 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Heavy rains continue to lash Mumbai". The Times of India . 11 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  8. ↑ "Rains wreak havoc in Maharashtra, Andhra". CNN IBN. August 10, 2008. Archived from the original on 18 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  9. 1 2 3 "Bihar flood 'catastrophe'; CM seeks Govt's help". CNN IBN. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on 1 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  10. ↑ Tewary, Amarnath (25 August 2008). "Flood devastation in Bihar state". BBC. Archived from the original on 26 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  11. 1 2 "Koshi wreaks havoc in Bihar, claims 42 lives". Press Trust of India. NDTV. 26 August 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  12. ↑ "Bihar floods: 47 die; thousands marooned". The Times of India . 26 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  13. ↑ "International Water Law Project - Agreement Between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal on the Kosi Project". Internationalwaterlaw.org. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  14. ↑ "International Water Law Project - Amended Agreement Between Nepal and India Concerning the Kosi Project". Internationalwaterlaw.org. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  15. ↑ Sabtu (23 August 2008). "Nepal held India responsible for flood in Kosi". WebIndia123. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  16. ↑ Dinesh Kumar Mishra. "InfoChange India News - Abandoned victims of the Kosi embankments". Infochangeindia.org. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ↑ nytimes.com, Floods in India May Displace Millions
  18. ↑ Update from Medha Patkar of Narmada Bachao on Flood Relief and Donations
  19. ↑ abc.net.au, Death toll rises from Indian floods
  20. ↑ reuters.com, Bihar villagers desperate as floods spread
  21. 1 2 "Assam flood situation grim; 2.1 million affected". Times of India. 7 September 2008. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  22. 1 2 "Disease outbreak feared in India flood". UPI. 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  23. ↑ "Human faults cause flood in Assam". NDTV. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  24. ↑ BreakingNews.ie - Ireland to aid flood victims in India
  25. ↑ heavy rains pound India; 163 killed over 4 days - covered by CNN IBN
  26. ↑ UP ravaged by floods, Army called in - covered by CNN IBN
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