Asssam Cyclone

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Borjhat, had been routinely forecasting squalls in the state over the past one week, but failed to issue a warning in this instance. The cyclone, reaching 200 km per hour, hit Mancachar around 7 pm on Tuesday 22 April leaving a trail of death and destruction in less than thirty minutes. It has been described as the worst storm to hit the state in 40 years flattening villages, uprooting trees and causing damage to the communication and power networks.

Act Member the Lutheran World Service India (ACT-LWS India) Disaster Response Team has been implementing rehabilitation projects (ASIN23) in the district and was available to make a rapid assessment of the situation. The team reported that 33 casualties had been confirmed in 8 of the most severely affected villages in the Kalapani area of Hatsingimari - Mancachar subdivision of Dhubri District alone. This toll could rise as the search for more bodies continues and some of the seriously injured are fighting for their lives in health centres. Around 1,000 families (ca 6,000 persons) have been seriously affected in the villages of (1) Chirakhowa Toppara, (2) Chirakhowa, (3) Pipulbari Pt. I, (4) Pipulbari Pt-II, (5) Bhurakata (6) Baliabeel, (7) Baushkata and (8) Bengervita. The newspapers report that around 4,000 houses have been damaged and nearly 1,800 livestock lost. Hundreds of acres of crops have been destroyed.

The local government has mobilised pressed rice and jaggary/molasses as immediate relief food to the affected people and requested LWS India for assistance. So far there is no information of any other external agencies presence in the area. The Government has also approached the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Red Cross for assistance.

Response from ACT Partners in India

LWS India has contacted ACT members Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of India (UELCI) for co-ordination purposes. Currently, UELCI does not plan an intervention and CASA are collecting further information before making a final decision.

Rapid Response from ACT-LWS IndiaThe Deputy Commissioner, Dhubri after visiting has requested LWS India to mobilise baby food, protein biscuits, clothing and temporary roofing materials to the worst affected families. It was also requested that rehabilitation assistance be considered.

Since LWS India staff are carrying out a Food for Work Project in the district, rice and pulses are available in adjoining blocks, under the existing ASIN 23 project in Dhubri. More relief supplies such as BP 5 Emergency Rations donated by Norwegian Church Aid and plastic sheeting (for temporary roofing) are being transported to the area.

The following minimum intervention by ACT-LWS India is proposed to cover 500 families.

1. BP 5 Protein Biscuit (compact food) for 15 days: donation from NCA
2. Temporary roofing for 500 families @ Rs. 325/- each : Rs. 162,500 / $ 3,457
3. Family relief kit comprising of clothing, blankets and mosquito nets, for 500 families @ Rs.650per family kit: Rs. 325,000 / $ 6,915
4. Family food ration consisting of 20 kgs rice and 2 kgs pulses per family @ Rs. 300/-: Rs. 150,000 / $ 3,190
5. House building material assistance to 500 families @ Rs. 16,500/-: Rs.8,250,000 / $175,530
6. Personnel, operational and support costs: Rs.1,500,000 / $ 31,915

Total: Rs.10,387,500 / $221,007

More information will be furnished in the ACT Appeal after a more detailed assessment.