Floods and heavy downpour in West Bengal in June 2011 - A rapid assessment report by Oxfam and Save The Children

Article courtesy:

Corporate Disaster Resource Network

Assessment team:

Oxfam India – Mr. Pradeep Bharwad (Technical Assistance), Mr. Bhaswar Banerjee, Mr. Amit Sengupta
Save the Children - Mr. Abinash Lahkar, Mr. Piyush Kumar
Kajla Jana Kalyan Samity - Tapas Jana and Dipak Banerjee
Areas assessed: Moyna & Panskura Block of East Midnapore District of West Bengal

Assessment date: 24th June, 2011

Background:

Severe incessant rain led to a flood situation in several parts of West Bengal affecting 6,71,952 people across 9 districts. This resulted in 2,00,000 homeless in East & West Midnapore districts of West Bengal. In addition, the cause of flooding in low lying areas in West and East Midnapur was the release of water from reservoirs (Damoda valley corporation barrage).

Rains have ceased in many parts of the state and there are reports of waters receding in some of the worst hit areas of the state. The situation is slowly returning to normalcy.