Flash Floods in India

Posted by Sandra Williams Jul 7, 2007

An estimated 500,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in the province of Baluchistan India after Cyclone Yemyin hit combined with heavy torrential flooding. The monsoon rains have left over 200,000 homeless and so far have affected at least 1.5 million people.

• 300,000 people are displaced and need help. Helicopters have been dropping food but many people are still not receiving aid. Riots broke out in the southwestern city of Turbat because of anger at the lack of aid. Biscuits and bottled water got through but aid is still needed and is slow getting to hungry people. Many water lines have been destroyed so safe drinking water is needed.

• Helicopters have lifted at least 800 marooned people and are supplying people who are stranded on roads with food.

• Health workers are traveling in boats to reach people who need medical attention, which is dangerous because landslides are an added threat to the flooding and have killed several people in Bangladesh.

Many flood victims are still searching for missing family members and accurate figures on how many have died are hard to get because communications are down in many areas. Over 200 people are reported to have died.

On June 23 thunderstorms came before the cyclone and killed 230 people in Karachi, which is Pakistan’s largest city.

For updates or information on the flash floods in India see Relief Web.

Sources:

Yahoo News, July 2, 2007, CBS News, June 30, 2007, Associated Press, June 29, 2007, Reuters, Bappa Majumda, July 6, 2007

Related: India, Caste and Poverty