Rapid Assessment Report of Landslide

and Flash Flood in Uttarakhand

Assessment compiled by : Caritas India and Karuna Social Service

Society

The background

The early monsoons have brought misery in the life of the people in Uttrakhand, specially in The

districts of Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri and Tehri. The State of Uttarakhand has been

severely affected by floods and landslides following the torrential rainfall in the region since Friday, 14

June 2013. Incidents of Cloudbursts and landslides across the state have led to the current death toll

being raised more than 1000 in the region. Increasing levels of water in two main rivers of the State,

namely Alakhnanda and Bhagirathi, have also resulted in the collapse of bridges, and damaging and

washing away of property which has not been estimated yet.

More incidents of cloud burst are reported in the districts of Pauri Garhwal on June 24. According to

initial information received from our sources, some 30 shops, 40 to 50 livestock and, 10 houses have

been lost in Paittani village of Pauri District.

Rescue operations by Army personnel continue with at least 4000 people still stranded.

The problems

• There was a huge reservoir situated above the land area of the Kedarnath temple which was

burst on 17th, June releasing huge volume of water. There was also cloudburst in the same

area. Both together caused huge flow of water and release of silt, which filled the temple and

complex of Kedernath and the surrounding places burying thousands of pilgrims and local

people.

• Many roads connecting the pilgrim centres like Kedarnath , Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamonitri and

Govindgat have been damaged. In various parts of Uttarakhand around 400 roads have been

damaged making communication and transportation difficult. Since this being the time of

piligrimage: Chardam yatra of Hindus and visit to the holy place of Sikh community to

Govindgath near Joshimath, there was huge flow of pilgrims to these places. It is reported that

initially, over 70,000 pilgrims visiting these holy places were straddled in Rudraprayag, Chamoli

and Uttarkasi areas.

• District Authority had mentioned over 27 000 pilgrims straddled in Chamoli, 25,000 in

Rudraprayag and nearly 9000 in Uttarkashi. This situation has led to problem of

accommodation and food as they were being rescued by the Indian army

• From 19th, onwards the state government deployed helicopters to rescue the people who were

held up in different places particularly in Kedarnath temple area

Objectives of the Assessment

• Impact of landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand

• Accessibility and availability of essential needs like water, sanitation, food, nutrition, health,

shelter, livelihoods and education

• Identification of priority needs of the community to restore normalcy in the affected villages

Methodology

Caritas India along with partners is active in the area for overall development of the community. There

are programme supported like Adhikar, women empowerment, leprosy eradication, Dots programme.

In different valleys of Uttarakhand. For nearly 3 days the team members couldn’t access to the location

due to heavy rains and reports of landslides of the village. The assessment teams have resumed their

field visit on 23rd and 24th June 2013 visiting 17 villages .

Name of the village visited

Rudraprayag Basoara,Gabani,Sauri,Bedubagat,Ganganagar,Jahwar nagar,Baniyadi,Vijay nagar,sili, Tilwada,Josiyada

Uttarkashi Chandrapuri,Tilot, Dedisari.Pilank.Judao

Pauri Garhwal Lower Baktiana

Chamoli Govindghat,Bhynur,Regoli and Tulsi

Tehri Guttu,Budhkedar,Lata

Rapid assessment findings

As this report is based on short-field visit and brief interactions with the highly distressed communities

of the landslide and flash floods, the assessment reflects the first-cut observation of the team. The

information collected using the emergency assessment also helps in summarizing the findings.

Damage to Infrastructure: The connecting roads and pathways are severely damaged due to

landslides and breaches due to flash floods. The road leading to villages of Rudraprayag still cut off,

but one could each by walk 15 KM. The centre point for most of the villages in the valley is cut-off due

to landslides, there are at least at 5 -6 points the landslides damaged or destroyed. The situation is

similar on the route Uttarkashi. The flash floods and landslide damaged connecting to all villages

visited. It disrupted all transportation and movements from these villages to markets, clinic and

schools.

Landslides damaged drinking water sources, like springs in all villages. The communities were either

forced to drink stream water or travel long distances to collect water from other springs in the hills and

neighborhood. The status of damage to are not known as the debris of land slide still covered the

sources of the springs.

Damage to Houses and Dwelling: Nearly 40% of the households living in the affected villages have

either been partially or fully impacted due to the land slides. The households whose houses damaged

in the flash floods are as follows.

Districts Name of the village Damage

Rudraprayag Chandrapuri • 300 houses complete washed out

• Entire agriculture

• Household items

Basoara

Gabani

Sauri

Bedubagat

Ganganagar

Jahwar nagar

Baniyadi

Vijay nagar

Sili

Tilwada

Uttarkashi Josiyada 123 houses completely damaged

Tilot

Didisari

Pilank

Judao

Chamoli Govindghat, Bhynur, Regoli

and Tulsi

45 house completely damaged,

and 53 shops.

Theri Guttu,Budhkedar,Lata 16 houses completely damaged

The households either left their houses due to damages to their houses or in fear of landslide damaging

the houses. All the displaced households have moved to nearby institutions, neighborhood houses or

relative’s houses located in the same village.

Loss of livelihood assets and livelihood options: The community members in all the villages

assessed have suffered from severe loss of livelihood assets mostly the rain-fed crops; greater extent

of pasture lands were lost in landslides. In 3 districts covering at least 4 villages, the community

members shared that they lost more than 1200 animals in landslides. The loss of grazing lands will

severely impact the fodder availability for the livestock. It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of reduction

in rain-fed crops is expected this year due to the current damage. The landslides and flash floods have

occurred at the time when these communities have limited food stock available with them. They all are

dependent on market to access food. Almost all of them shared that they access food from market

through credit. The interest rate on food credit will range from 180% to 240% per annum depending

upon the repayment schedule.

Drinking water and water resources: The landslides have severely affected the primary water

sources in at least 50% of the villages assessed. It mainly affected the springs. In all villages springs

were either damaged or destroyed forcing people to drink water from streams. In some of the villages

no spring exist in their hills and entirely dependent on stream water. Due to landslides, the stream

water is contaminated and is muddy. People still collect this contaminated water and allow the mud to

deposit before consuming it for drinking and cooking.

Health Services: Access to health services is disrupted due to damage to roads and pathways. For

the communities In case of seriousness of the disease, the communities had to travel down to town

which is merely not accessible and it is almost 10 – 15 Km. Currently access is very difficult and in

normal times people access these services either by walking or use of donkey/horse.

Education: The schools in assessed villages are not functioning due to no teacher is present in these

schools for past 10 days. Due to disruption in road and pathways, the children have not attending the

schools. There is no damage reported to any of the schools, as yet.

Emerging Needs

- All the communities have identified restoring roads for access to markets, schools and health

services as the most important needs.

- The severe damage to orchards, pasture lands and rain-fed crops will have great impact on

livelihood options for the communities. Thus need for employment generation to fill the income

gap and thus purchase of food has emerged as second most priority need.

- Damage to existing water sources has led them to collect drinking water from streams or walk

longer distances and consume. Thus identified drinking water treatment and restoring drinking

water resources as third most important needs.

- Lean food stocks are exhausted and people are dependent on markets and merchants to

provide loan (high interest rates). Thus identified access to food as important needs.

- The rainfall is followed with diseases for both humans and animals. Thus identified health

services for humans and veterinary health services for animals as priority needs.

Recommendations

1. It is currently assessed that nearly 484 households are severely affected from the landslides and

flash floods, which needs to be addressed based on the state policy

2. Restoration of infrastructure (Road clearing, road repairs, stone packing, some protection works

temporary and spring revitalization). Caritas India can use response program to promote Cash for

work program to restore roads for immediate use and advocate with PWD for linking road repairs

and reconstruction. Also explore opportunities to link with MNREGS.

3. Water-

a. Immediate Response ( 1 month)

i. Use the Hygiene kits and their distribution (Soaps, Chlorine, ORS, Tooth paste,

brush, Water containers (Buckets), Jerry can, mug) -

ii. Distribution of Plastic sheets and Blankets

iii. Water Purification (Alum, Chlorine, PUR) immediately

iv. Water and Hygiene promotion - all the villages

b. Medium Term ( 1- 3 month)

i. Spring revitalization (link to Cash for work) – Affected villages

ii. NFIs like kitchen utensils

iii. Water treatment materials

c. Long term (3-12 months)

i. Cash for work (in general)

ii. Agriculture activities

iii. Income generation programme

4. Working with others

a. Shelter support to displaced communities from Government and other NGOs

b. Livestock vaccinations through Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department

c. Link cash for work activity in coordination with MNREGS for plantation drive on the hills

5. Caritas and Partners to conduct a meeting with all community to consolidate the damages and

displaced households.

After destruction

Before destruction

Caritas India and partners Reach

Indicating

Presence of

Caritas India

Partners in

Uttrakhand.

Other NGOs can

contact us

to make use of our

centers for relief

activities.

9012228575

Uttarkashi

CentersAssessment

initiated

Relief

Initiated