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Situation updates on sudden flood due to breach ofembankment at ATAPUR village

Date: 4th Aug 2011Time: 10 AMVillage: Atapur under Monipur G.P. in Sandeshkhali-II block of North 24Parganas

On 1st of August one of the village where ADRA intervened Post Aila RecoverProject was flooded due to the sudden breach of embankment. Due to the newmoon the water level of river Raimangal was high on last Sunday and added tothat the embankment became very weak within in six to eight months of itsrepair. There was a light wind from the east side, which helps the river water tooverflow the embankment and breached almost 500 meter within 2 hours.

Everyday water is entraining and returning back to river twice day. On 3rdAugust Night during the high tide there was raining and speedy wind as well.As a result the extra volume of water entered into the village and flooded twomore adjourning village Joygopalpur and Manipur (partly agricultural land onlyaffected) . PRI members, Community members, Special trained task forcemembers took all initiatives to protect the other village from saline water. Butall were in vain when sudden rain with speedy wind bowled in the middle of thenight. 80% land of Atapur village is under the water.

Positive part of this incident is that there was no loss of lives and livelihood at alldue to the water. People are getting safe water from raised tube well. Peoplehave taken shelter with their belonging, though the quality and enough space ofthe shelter is not there. Block and District Administration were aware about thesame within an hour time.

On the other hand people loosed their shelter, and the shelter made with mudand still standing will be collapse soon as the water goes down. During thisheavy rainy season the crisis arising for these people. So far 90 shelter totallydamaged. 35% population of Atapur Village taken shelter on raised land.

Agriculture based livelihoods totally damaged. Crops and vegetable are undersaline water it will dry within one or two days. Sweet water fish alreadydamaged and saline But this flood will make this shortage in a big scarcity.Added to that these, animals like cow, goat and sheep are not getting enoughwater for drink; as people are hardly getting water from the distance. Animalswill try to drink the contaminated saline water, which will cause different dieses.

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There are 22 tube wells and all are submerged except 4( raised in PARP). All thepeople collecting water from these four tube wells.

Sanitation and health condition in this area already detoriate. Women andchildren are spending maximum time of day on water. Most of the sanitarylatrine submerged. People are using open space for defecation.

Particulars NumberEmbankment area breached 500 metre approxPeople taken shelter at raised land Approx 1300 people out of 3750House already damaged 90 NosTube well submerged 18 out of 22Low cost latrine submerged Almost allPond and fisheries inundated Approx 1200 acreVegetable garden All vegetable loosedLivestock damaged Nil so farAgricultural land AllPrimary School 2 out of 2 is closedICDS 12 out of 12 is closed (cocked

destitution for pregnant women andchildren )

SSK Damaged and closed

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The breached embankment Water coming out as river water level going down during the low tide

Animals has no place to stand Animals are kept on embankment

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Housed are no more in living condition House and low cost latrine submerged

One family has taken shelter on sluice gate Tube well submerged as it was not raised