Sambalpur Flood Relief Program

Heavy rain in the aftermath of low pressure triggered floods in the Sambalpur district Odisha state of India with over 70000 people being marooned in this district. The major rive Mahanadi and several rivers were in spate. Over a period of three days Sambalpur itself received around 950mm of rainfall which is about 60% of the annual total rainfall. Threat of food loomed over this district as the major river Mahanadi continued to rise due to incessant rains in this part for the third consecutive day. While the Mahanadi surrounds Sambalpur on three sides and the river is in full spate the perennial water logging problems of the city has multiplied. With three days of continuous rains, vast stretches of low-lying areas of the city are reeling under water logging and the situation is unlikely to improve for next days when more rains are predicted. Since the river Mahanadi surrounds the city is flooded, accumulated rain water cannot be cleared even using the pumps. Over hundred pumps are now pressed into operation across the city to remove the water logging. Due to encroachment in the natural drainage system the situation is worse. Similarly, the unclean and choked drains worse as rainwater mixed with sewerage have entered into households throwing the city sanitation into disarray. Meanwhile, the raise in water levels in Mahanadi has also spread panic in the riverside localities of the city. Hundreds of Basti people settling along the river side have now settle in different school and railway platform.The direct losses from the natural disaster have been estimated to amount upto 2% of the GDP and up to 12% of the central government revenue. It also means that the development gains(Economic, Physical, Social and environment) attended over several years are wiped out during the recurrent events. The floods claim on an average 1464 human life and 86288 heads of cattle dead every year. We surveyed two areas they are Bahalpada and Jhankarpada which comes under ward no 08 and 09 of Dhounkouda block of Sambalpur District. The total population of these two areas is estimated to be around 800. Almost all the houses are either partially or fully damaged to the current heavy rain. Most of the people resided in this two locality are migrant labors from bihar and local tribal and poor people belonging to different community reside in the locality. The flood washed away their houses and all belongings. For the last three days are taking shelters in the railway platform. Till, our survey no government machinery have yet visited the site. Children and women are the worst suffer. Immediate relief intervention is the need of the hour.