ReliefWeb

Incessant rains in the desert state of Rajasthan has given rise to one of the worst floods of the decade. Heavy monsoon rains that started on the 16th of August has engulfed several villages of the 12 odd districts of Rajasthan.

Barmer is the worst affected because of heavy rains and downstream over flow of heavy rain water from Jaisalmer. On 21st midnight there was a heavy rain and no early warning was given to the villagers 23 kms away from the district headquarters. It has received about 577mm of rainfall, 300 mm more than the annual average rainfall of 277mm. About 60-100 villages are affected in the district. Some of the worst hit villages include Kavas, Malua, Bhadaka and Shiv.The water level is 25-27 feet above the ground level, villages at a radius of 60 kms is submerged under water and there is no road or rail connectivity.

Over 800,000 of Barmer's two million populations have been affected by the floods with hundreds of people still missing. It is officially reported that 103 people have died 95% of the villagers are now homeless and have moved on high sand dunes with no clothes, food, utensils or beddings. 16 Gram Panchayats which has approximately 45 villages have been affected. There is total livestock loss with few goats and sheep left.

The army has been deputed for relief with motor boats but the water level is so high that rescue operations are difficult. There is no expertise with the local people to face the flood situation and most of them do not know to swim.

The flood water is trapped in between high sand dunes and there is no way out and therefore it is estimated that it would take at least 45 days for the water to seep or drain out.

SEEDS Response

A SEEDS team is leaving for Barmer on 30th August for the preliminary assessment of the ground level situation. SEEDS will focus on the shelter, water and sanitation issues of the affected population.