The 2007 South Asian floods were a series of floods in India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. News Agencies, citing the Indian and Bangladeshi governments, place the death toll in excess of 2,000.[1] By 3 August, approximately 20 million had been affected[2] and by 10 August some 30 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal had been affected by flooding.[3]
UNICEF said that the situation "is being described as the worst flooding in living memory".[4]
Background
South Asia subdivisions affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
Divisions of Bangladesh affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).Districts of Bangladesh affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
On 1 August, there was flooding on the Padma and Brahmaputra rivers.[7] By 3 August, the main highway connecting Dhaka to the rest of the country was impassable,[2] many districts were flood-affected[4] and 500,000 people had been marooned.[7] By 7 August an estimated 7.5 million people had fled their homes.[8] By 8 August more than 50,000 people had diarrhoea or other waterborne diseases[9] and more than 400,000 people were in temporary shelters.[10] By 11 August, flood deaths were still occurring in Bangladesh, the number of people with flood-related diseases was increasing[11] and about 100,000 people had caught dysentery or diarrhoea.[12] By 13 August, the confirmed death toll in Bangladesh was 405.[13]
By 15 August, five million people were still displaced, the estimated death toll was nearly 500,[14] and all six of Bangladesh's divisions were affected.
Dhaka
Districts in Dhaka that were affected by flooding on 21 July include Dhaka, Munshiganj, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Manikganj, Netrakona, Jamalpur and Tangail.[15]
Khulna
Districts in Khulna that were affected by flooding on 21 July include Magura and Narail.[15]
Rajshahi
Places in Rajshahi that were affected by flooding on 21 July include Sirajganj, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Bogra and Kurigram. Besides, Belkuchi, Enayatpur too.[15]
Sylhet
Districts in Sylhet that were affected by flooding on 21 July include Sylhet, Sunamganj and Sherpur.[15]
Areas affected in Bhutan
Bhutan subdivisions affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
In Bhutan, the rain had led to landslides across the country, disrupting a number of major roads.[7]
Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang
By 5 August water was still above the warning level in the foothills of Bhutan.[16]
Areas affected in India
India states affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
By 7 August in India, an estimated 13.7 million people had fled their homes.[8]
According to the Indian government, the total cost of the monsoon this year, of which these floods are a part, is in excess of ₹1.3 billion (US$16 million) since 1 June[1] The full extent of the damage and number of lives lost may never be known.[17] president Pratibha Patil has condoled the loss of lives due to the floods.[18]
Arunachal Pradesh
Places in Arunachal Pradesh that were affected by flooding on 12 July include Lakhimpur, Chamuah Gaon, Nowboicha and Bharaluwa Gaon.[19]
Assam
In Assam, approximately 100,000 sought shelter in 500 government-sponsored relief camps. Millions of dollars' worth of crops were also destroyed.[2] 500,000 residents in Assam were displaced, and nineteen have been killed. On 1 August 2007, a teenage boy from Assam was shot by a police officer after a flood as survivors attacked a group of aid workers.[6]
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were the hardest hit states due to their high population density. By 3 August, the estimated death toll was 41 people, and 48 schoolgirls were marooned in a school in the Darbhanga district.[7][18] By 8 August, an estimated 10 million people in Bihar had been affected by flooding.[10] Army helicopters delivered food packets to Bihar residents and 180 relief camps were set up. By 10 August, aid workers in Bihar said the number of people with diarrhoea had jumped dramatically[20] and by 11 August, flood deaths were still occurring.[11]
Gujarat
On 8 August, Jamnagar reported 269 millimetres (10 inches) of rain[1] and fresh flooding was reported in Gujarat.[10] By the next day, nine people had been killed[1] and more than 400 villages were cut off.[21] By 10 August, more than 22,000 people were displaced[22] and health workers were disinfecting the worst-hit areas.[12]
Haryana
Haryana was affected by flooding on 12 August.[23]
Himachal Pradesh
On 14 August in Himachal Pradesh, a cloudburst caused a landslide that buried an entire village, killing an estimated 60 people.[24]
Jammu and Kashmir
Parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the part of Kashmir administered by India, that were affected by flooding on 12 August include Jammu city, Udhampur, Nikki Tawi, and lower Satwari.[23]
Jharkhand and West Bengal
While relief efforts have been concentrated elsewhere in India, the plight of the traditional region of Bengal (the flood plains of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river delta and its tributaries) has been less reported. The Damodar and Kangsabati rivers overflowed their banks in late June, but levels finally began to fall as of 6 August.[25] The Durgapur Barrage and Kangsabati Dam (near Bankura) may be partly responsible. In North Bengal, the floods have caused economic damage also estimated in the millions of U.S. dollars (at least Rs. 500 million); and in Siliguri, flash floods have wiped away at least 100 houses on a single night (28 July 2007). The state government of West Bengal has set up facilities to house 50,000 refugees. As the flood has affected parts of the East Midnapore (Purba Medinipur) district, long-standing political divisions and conflicts have flared in the wake of the floods.
By 3 August most streets were flooded in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra were waterlogged.[27] On 7 August there was extensive flooding in the Gadchiroli district.[28]
Meghalaya
Places in Meghalaya that were affected by flooding on 12 July include the West Garo Hills district, the Tura and Rishipara areas.[19]
National Capital Territory of Delhi
New Delhi was also affected by the heavy rains.[5]
Orissa
On 8 August, fresh flooding was reported in Orissa.[10]
Places in Tripura that were affected by flooding on 12 July include Udaipur, Amarpur and Sonamura.[15]
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand, which was known as Uttaranchal until 2006, was affected by flooding on 12 August.[23]
Areas affected in Nepal
Regions of Nepal affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).Zones of Nepal affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
In Nepal, eighty-four people were killed by the floods and resulting landslides and 9,700 families were displaced. Twenty-eight of the country's seventy-five districts were affected,[5] in eleven of Nepal's fourteen zones and all five of Nepal's regions. Nepali officials were concerned about the spread of waterborne diseases.[7] By 7 August an estimated 333,500 people in Nepal were affected by flooding.[29]
Central Region
Janakpur Zone
Districts in the Janakpur Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sindhuli, Sarlahi and Ramechhap.[30]
Narayani Zone
Districts in the Narayani Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Chitwan and Rautahat.[30]
East Region
Koshi Zone
Districts in the Koshi Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Sunsari and Morang.[30]
Province No. 1
The Jhapa District in the Province No. 1 was affected by flooding from 23 July.[30]
Sagarmatha Zone
Districts in the Sagarmatha Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Udayapur, Okhaldhunga, Saptari, Solukhumbu and Siraha.[30]
Far West Region
Mahakali Zone
Districts in the Mahakali Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Baitadi and Darchula.[30]
Seti Zone
Districts in the Seti Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Kailali, Bajhang and Bajura.[30]
Mid West Region
Bheri Zone
Districts in the Bheri Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Banke, Bardiya and Surkhet.[30]
Rapti Zone
The Dang district in the Rapti Zone was affected by flooding from 23 July.[30]
West Region
Dhawalagiri Zone
The Baglung District in the Dhawalagiri Zone was affected by flooding from 23 July.[30]
Lumbini Zone
Districts in the Lumbini Zone that were affected by flooding from 23 July include Nawalparasi and Gulmi.[30]
Areas affected in Pakistan
Pakistan subdivisions affected by flooding between 3 July and 15 August 2007 (marked in blue).
By 11 August, 28 people had died in rain-related accidents in Sindh.[11] By 12 August, flood waters were sweeping through villages in southern Pakistan.[31] The Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was affected by flooding on 12 August.[32] Areas in coastal Balochistan were destroyed, including the village of Solband, which was levelled.[33]
By 15 August, non-governmental organisations, many with contributions from governments, that were contributing aid included
Malteser International,[34]
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe,[35]
Direct Relief International,[36]
World Concern,[37]
Islamic Relief,[38]
Church World Service,[39]
International Save the Children Alliance,[40]
Lutheran World Relief,[41]
Medical Teams International,[42]
Care International,[43]
Catholic Relief Services,[44]
British Red Cross Society,[45]
World Vision,[46]
Diakonie Emergency Aid,[47]
David McAntony Gibson Foundation,[48]
Caritas Internationalis,[49]
Action by Churches Together (ACT),[50]
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA),[51][52]
Baptist World Aid (BWAid),[53]
Mercy Corps,[54]
and many others.
