Nine states reeling under devastating floods across India
New Delhi, 2019: Nine states in India are reeling under the effects of severe monsoon flooding. Over 200 have been killed in different parts of the country and thousands have been displaced after monsoon rains battered several states. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala are among the worst-hit states.
Earlier in July, over 210 people lost their lives and 14 million people were affected by the severe floods in the Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. World Vision India has been responding to the affected communities in these states over the past few weeks, reaching over 3000 families with emergency relief.
In Kerala, 92 people have been killed in floods. 80 landslides have occurred across eight districts. Over 60 people are feared dead due to a landslide in Kavalappara. Fifty-four people have lost their lives and 200,000 people have been displaced in north Karnataka and where Belagavi, Chikkmanglur, Shivamogga are among the worst-hit districts. Thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed due to this unprecedented rainfall. In Maharashtra, 49 people have lost their lives due to the heavy rains. Several districts have been isolated due to heavy rainfall. Over 400,000 have been evacuated from five districts of Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli. Over 20 people died in rain-related incidents in Gujarat.
“There is a high likelihood of the flood situation worsening across many states. We are monitoring the situation and are on alert. We have already begun immediate response in a few locations,” said Franklin Jones, Head – Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs, World Vision India.
World Vision India’s has provided emergency relief to 1000 families in Kalimpong, West Bengal in the form of 25 kg rice and Tarpaulin sheets. In Bihar, World Vision India has provided emergency relief to 1248 affected families in Darbhanga district and to 1000 families in Purnea district. In Guwahati emergency relief was provided to 126 families. World Vision India is also distributing emergency relief to 1126 families in Morigaon, one of the worst-affected districts in Assam. In Malappuram, World Vision India team rushed emergency relief (rice, sugar, lentils, salt, cooking oil, mats, mosquito repellents, sanitary pads and biscuits) to people living in the relief camps. In Miraj, Maharashtra, 4500 families will be provided family hygiene kits containing soap, sanitary pads, Dettol, toothbrush and paste and bucket.
World Vision India is responding in the worst-affected districts of Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam and Bihar.