2007 South Asian floods
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2007_South_Asian_floods".

This article refers to the multiple concurrent floods in South Asia between July 3 and August 15 2007 (Dartmouth Flood Observatory numbers DFO115,121,124,129,136,143,153,155,157 and 158). See other articles for other floods, e.g. the floods caused by Cyclone Yemyin, the China floods, the Sudan floods, etc.
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2007 South Asian floods
Residents of Keraniganj walk on a bridge on the bank of the flooded Buriganga river.
Residents of Keraniganj walk on a bridge on the bank of the flooded Buriganga river.
Duration July 3, 2007 - August 15, 2007
Damages At least Rs. 50 crores (USD 12 million)
Fatalities 2,000 +
Areas affected India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan

The 2007 South Asian floods are a series of floods in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. News Agencies, g the Indian and Bangladesh governments, place the death toll in excess of 2,000[1]. By August 3 approximately twenty million had been displaced[2] and by August 10, some 30 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal had been affected by flooding.[3]

UNICEF noted that the situation "is being described as the worst flooding in living memory".[4]

Contents

Background

South Asia subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
South Asia subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

B. P. Yadav of the Indian Meteorological Department reported that "we've been getting constant rainfall in these areas for nearly 20 days" due to abnormal monsoon patterns.[2] Flooding in Pakistan began during the landfall of Cyclone 03B in June 2007. Pakistani states Balochistan and Sindh were particularly affected.[5] Melting snow from the Himalayan glaciers increased the water levels of the Brahmaputra River.[6]

Areas affected in Bangladesh

Divisions of Bangladesh affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Divisions of Bangladesh affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Districts of Bangladesh affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Districts of Bangladesh affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

By August 1, there was flooding on the Padma and Brahmaputra rivers.[7] By August 3, the main highway connecting Dhaka to the rest of the country was impassable,[2] many districts were flood-affected[4] and 500,000 people had been marooned.[7] By August 7 an estimated 7.5 million people had fled their homes.[8] By August 8 more than 50,000 people had diarrhoea or other waterborne diseases[9] and more than 400,000 people were in temporary shelters.[10] By August 11, flood deaths were still occurring in Bangladesh, the number of people with flood-related diseases was increasing[11] and about 100,000 people had caught dysentery or diarrhoea.[12] By August 13, the confirmed death toll in Bangladesh was 405.[13]

By August 15, five million people were still displaced, the estimated death toll was nearly 500,[14] and all six of Bangladesh's divisions were affected.

Barisal

Bhola in Barisal was affected by flooding on July 21.[15]


Dhaka

Districts in Dhaka that were affected by flooding on July 21 include Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Tangail.[15]

Khulna

Districts in Khulna that were affected by flooding on July 21 include Narail and Magura.[15]

Rajshahi

Districts in Rajshahi that were affected by flooding on July 21 include Sirajganj, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra and Kurigram.[15]

Sylhet

Districts in Sylhet that were affected by flooding on July 21 include Sylhet, Sunamganj and Sherpur.[15]

Areas affected in Bhutan

Bhutan subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Bhutan subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

In Bhutan, the rain had led to landslides across the country, disrupting a number of major roads.[7]

Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang

By August 5, water was still above the warning level in the foothills of Bhutan.[16]

Areas affected in India

India states affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
India states affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

By August 7 in India, an estimated 13.7 million people had fled their homes.[17] According to the Indian government, the total cost of the monsoon this year, of which these floods are a part, is in excess of Rs. 130 crores (32 million USD) since June 1[1] The full extent of the damage and number of lives lost may never be known.[18] President Pratibha Patil has condoled the loss of lives due to the floods.[19]

Arunachal Pradesh

Places in Arunachal Pradesh,that were affected by flooding on July 12 include Lakhimpur, Chamuah Gaon, Nowboicha and Bharaluwa Gaon.[20]

Assam

In Assam, approximately 100,000 sought shelter in 500 government-sponsored relief camps. Millions of dollars' worth of crops were also destroyed.[2] 500,000 residents in Assam were displaced, and nineteen have been killed. On August 1, 2007, a teenage boy from Assam was shot by a police officer after a flood as survivors attacked a group of aid workers.[6]

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were the hardest hit states due to their high population density. By August 3, the estimated death toll was 41 people, and 48 schoolgirls were marooned in a school in the Darbhanga district.[7][19] By August 8, an estimated 10 million people in Bihar had been affected by flooding.[21] Army helicopters delivered food packets to Bihar residents and 180 relief camps were set up. By August 10, aid workers in Bihar said the number of people with diarrhoea had jumped dramatically[22] and by August 11, flood deaths were still occurring.[23]

Gujarat

On August 8, Jamnagar reported 269 millimetres (10 inches) of rain[1] and fresh flooding was reported in Gujarat.[24] By the next day, nine people had been killed[1] and more than 400 villages were cut off.[25] By August 10, more than 22,000 people were displaced[26] and health workers were disinfecting the worst-hit areas.[27]

Haryana

Haryana was affected by flooding on August 12.[28]

Himachal Pradesh

On August 14 in Himachal Pradesh, a cloudburst caused a landslide that buried an entire village, killing an estimated 60 people.[29]

Jammu and Kashmir

Parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the part of Kashmir administered by India, that were affected by flooding on August 12 include Jammu city, Udhampur, Nikki Tawi, and lower Satwari.[28]

Jharkhand and West Bengal

While relief efforts have been concentrated elsewhere in India, the plight of the traditional region of Bengal (the flood plains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river delta and its tributaries) has been less reported. The Damodar and Kangsabati rivers overflowed their banks in late June, but levels finally began to fall as of August 6th. [30] The Durgapur Barrage and Kangsabati Dam (near Bankura) may be partly responsible. In North Bengal, the floods have caused economic damage also estimated in the millions of U.S. dollars (at least Rs. 50 crores); and in Siliguri, flash floods have wiped away at least 100 houses on a single night (July 28,2007). The state government of West Bengal has set up facilities to house 50,000 refugees. As the flood has affected parts of the East Midnapore (Purba Medinipur) district, long-standing political divisions and conflicts have flared in the wake of the floods.

Kerala

Kerala was affected by flooding on July 19.[31]

Maharashtra

By August 3 most streets were flooded in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra were waterlogged.[32] On August 7 there was extensive flooding in the Gadchiroli district.[33]

Meghalaya

Places in Meghalaya that were affected by flooding on July 12 include the West Garo Hills district, the Tura and Rishipara areas.[20]

National Capital Territory of Delhi

New Delhi was also affected by the heavy rains.[5]

Orissa

On August 8, fresh flooding was reported in Orissa.[34]

Punjab

Punjab was affected by flooding on August 12.[28]

Tripura

Places in Tripura that were affected by flooding on July 12 include Udaipur, Amarpur and Sonamura.[35]

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, which was known as Uttaranchal until 2006, was affected by flooding on August 12.[28]

Areas affected in Nepal

Regions of Nepal affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Regions of Nepal affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Zones of Nepal affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Zones of Nepal affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

In Nepal, eighty-four people were killed by the floods and resulting landslides and 9,700 families were displaced. Twenty-eight of the country's seventy-five districts were affected,[5] in eleven of Nepal's fourteen zones and all five of Nepal's regions. Nepali officials were concerned about the spread of waterborne diseases.[7] By August 7 an estimated 333,500 people in Nepal were affected by flooding.[36]

Central Region

Janakpur Zone

Districts in the Janakpur Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Ramechhap.[37]

Narayani Zone

Districts in the Narayani Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Chitwan and Rautahat.[37]

East Region

Koshi Zone

Districts in the Koshi Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Sunsari and Morang.[37]

Mechi Zone

The Jhapa District in the Mechi Zone was affected by flooding from July 23.[37]

Sagarmatha Zone

Districts in the Sagarmatha Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Saptari, Solukhumbu and Siraha.[37]

Far West Region

Mahakali Zone

Districts in the Mahakali Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Baitadi and Darchula.[37]

Seti Zone

Districts in the Seti Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Kailali, Bajhang and Bajura.[37]

Mid West Region

Bheri Zone

Districts in the Bheri Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Banke, Bardiya and Surkhet.[37]

Rapti Zone

The Dang district in the Rapti Zone was affected by flooding from July 23.[37]

West Region

Dhawalagiri Zone

The Baglung District in the Dhawalagiri Zone was affected by flooding from July 23.[37]

Lumbini Zone

Districts in the Lumbini Zone that were affected by flooding from July 23 include Nawalparasi and Gulmi.[37]

Areas affected in Pakistan

Pakistan subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).
Pakistan subdivisions affected by flooding between July 3 and August 15 2007 (marked in blue).

Sindh

By August 11, 28 people had died in rain-related accidents in Sindh.[38] By August 12, flood waters were sweeping through villages in southern Pakistan.[39]

North-West Frontier Province

The Kohistan district of the North-West Frontier was affected by flooding on August 12.[40]

International response

By August 15, non-governmental organisations, many with contributions from governments, that were contributing aid included Malteser International,[41] Deutsche Welthungerhilfe,[42] Direct Relief International,[43] World Concern,[44] Islamic Relief,[45] Church World Service,[46] International Save the Children Alliance,[47] Lutheran World Relief,[48] Medical Teams International,[49] Care International,[50] Catholic Relief Services,[51] British Red Cross Society,[52] World Vision,[53] Diakonie Emergency Aid,[54] David McAntony Gibson Foundation,[55] Caritas Internationalis,[56] Action by Churches Together (ACT),[57] Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA),[58][59] Baptist World Aid (BWAid),[60] Mercy Corps,[61] and many others.

External links

References

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