south asia disaster management report 2011

Published by the SAARC Disastger Management Centre,

New Delhi

Any part of this publication may be cited, copied, translated

in other languages or adpted to meet local needs with prior

permission from SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New

Delhi

@ SDMC 2013

This report has been authored by the professionals of SAA-

RC Disaster Management Centre with assistance and sup-

port of staffs under the overall guidance of Director, SDMC.

Editorial Team

O. P. Mishra, M. Ghatak

Assistance : N. M. Akram , Ranjan Kumar

Data Compliation : Hari Dass Sharma, Mahesh Kumar,

Yashika Sharma

ISBN : 13:978-81-907841-3-9

Designed & Printed by

CELLULOID

Patparganj Industrial Area, Delhi

+91-11- 22487531, 9811297670

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Contents

Preface (V)

Chapter 1 : Introduction 1

PART - I: HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS

Chapter 2 : Cyclone 9

Chapter 3 : Flood 20

Chapter 4 : Drought 37

Chapter 5 : Avalanche 54

Chapter 6 : Heat and Cold Wave 58

Chapter 7 : Forest Fire 63

PART - II: GEOLOGICAL DISASTERS

Chapter 8 : Earthquake 68

Chapter 9 : Landslide 94

PART - III: MANMADE DISASTERS

Chapter 10 : Epidemics 99

Chapter 11 : Man-Made Disasters 111

Chapter 12 : Conclusion 133

DISASTER DATA - SOUTH ASIA 2011

Appendix I-A: South Asia Disaster Profile 2011 136

Appendix I-B: South Asia Disaster Events 2011 139

Appendix II : Storms in South Asia 2011 142

Appendix III : Flood in South Asia2011 143

Appendix IV : Cold and Heat waves in South Asia2011 144

Appendix V-A : Earthquake events in South Asia 2011 145

Appendix V-B : Earthquake Data of South Asia-2011 148

Appendix V-C: Earthquake data of South Asia-2011 152

Appendix V-D : Earthquake in South Asia 2001-2011 154

Appendix VI-A : Landslide Events in South Asia2011 157

Appendix VI-B : Avalanche Events in South Asia2011 160

Appendix VII-A: Epidemics in South Asia2011 161

Appendix VII-B: Epidemics in South Asia-2011 as compiled by Pro MED 162

Appendix VIII : Man-made Disasters in South Asia 2011 181

Despite its negative consequences, disaster's also offer good opportunities to formulate forward

looking policies pertaining to social development, economic growth, environmental quality and jus-

tice, in addition to essential value that contribute to sustainability. For effective disaster Management

it is utmost significance re-evaluate what is working in the sector of disaster management, what can

be improved and what tomorrow might bring.

Keeping this view SAARC Disaster Management Centre has initiated on the process of compilation

of South Asia Disaster Report. Like the previous four issues of the report, SADR 2011 is largely based

on the data published by the Emergency Disaster Database (EM-DAT) maintained by the Centre for

Research on the Epidemiology of Disaster (CRED) Leuven, Belgium, which is acknowledged as the most

authentic global data base of disaster. However, this has been supplemented by information available

from other reliable government, inter-government and non-government sources. Further SDMC has

been collecting disaster related information from its daily scanning of the major newspapers pub-

lished in South Asia, based on which a weekly Disaster Update is being published.

The report has been structured largely on the pattern of previous four reports. In total 13 chapters

of the report have been distributed in three parts. Part I deals with hydro-meteorological disasters,

e.g. cyclone, flood, drought, glacial lake outburst, avalanche, heat and cold wave and forest fire; Part II

covers the geological disasters of earthquake and landslide; while Part III discusses the man-made and

biological disasters. The introductory chapter critically analyzes overall disasters in numbers as well

as damages to life and property. The concluding chapter summarizes the main findings of the report

based on critical analysis. Most of the chapters have separate appendices on disaster statistics from

various sources.

The report is the collective efforts of the professionals of the SDMC, who had to work hand with-

out adequate support of reliable data. We realize that there is future scope for improvement in data

presentation and interpretation. SDMC welcomes constructive comments and criticisms from the

readers which would be useful for drafting the disaster report for the year 2012. We are determined to

make SADR as the most important and basic reference material on disaster in South Asia.

New Delhi

March, 2013 (SATENDRA)

Director,

SAARC Disaster Management Centre.

Preface

South Asia DisasterReport 2011

| 1 |

Introduction

Chapter 1

The year 2011 witnessed a slight decrease in

the occurrence of natural disasters globally. As

against 373 natural disaster events (country

level disasters) in the year 2010, 302 natural di-

saster events were recorded in the year 20111.

As against a total of 207 million people af-

fected due to natural disasters in the year 2010,

around 206 million people were affected due

to natural disasters during the year 2011. As

against 296,800 casualties during the year 2010,

only around 29,782 people were killed dur-

ing 2011(Table 1.1a). The economic damage to

property and infrastructure due to natural disas-

ters during the year 2011 is estimated at around

366 billion US$ as against 109 billion during the

year 2010.

Table 1.1(a): Comparative Global Natural Disasters (2008- 2011) at a glance (Source: CRED 2011)2

Indicator 2001-2010 Yearly average

2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of country –level Disasters

384 354 335 373 302

Number of People killed 106,887 235816 10418 296800 29,782

Number of affected 232 million 214.3 million 119.52 million 207 million 206 million

Economic Damages(US$) 108 billion 190.30 billion 41.28 billion 109 billion 366 billion

A critical analysis of Figure 1.1(a) shows that a

total of 302 natural disasters of various kinds were

reported for the year 2011 in the world, while the

average number of occurrence of natural disas-

ter during preceding ten years (2000 – 2010) was

found to be 384. The number of natural disasters

occurred in the world during the year 2011 con-

stituted only 78.64% of those of average natural

disasters that occurred during the preceding de-

cade (2000 – 2010). Analyses, however, showed

that the year 2011 had similar pattern of disas-

ter than that of the preceding decade. Flood was

found to be a severe natural disaster in terms of

frequency followed by storm, earthquake, and ex-

treme temperatures in terms of their occurrences.

Figure 1.1(a): Comparative of global average of natural disasters (2000-2010) and global occurrence of natural disasters during 2011(Source:

Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2011: The Numbers and Trends, CRED, 2011)2

| 2 |

Introduction

Figure 1.1 (b): Temporal distribution of Natural Disaster (1900-2011). ( source: www.emdat.be)

Trend of DisastersThe Fig.1.1(b) show that the global trend of

disasters in the year 2011 was found to be con-

sistently increasing in number of hydro-mete-

orological disasters in the world. Incidents of

geological disasters like earthquakes, landslides

and volcanic activity have remained more or

less constant, even though the impact of these

disasters in terms of loss and injuries of life and

damages of buildings and infrastructures have

worsened, probably due to rapid growth of un-

planned settlements and unsafe building practic-

es. The hydro meteorological disasters like flood,

drought, windstorms, cyclones, tornadoes and

other extreme climatic events, on the other hand

have been continuously on the rise as would be

evident from the above figure 1.1(b). This trend of

distribution of natural disasters gets enhanced in

the time frame during 1980 – 2010, while in the

year 2011 the temporal distribution of natural

disasters gets declined (Fig. 1.1b), which is very

much corroborative with Table 1.1(a).

A rigorous compilation and analyses of di-

saster data during the year 2011 demonstrated

that the South Asia had experienced climate

change induced hydro-meteorological and

geophysical natural disasters (Flood, coastal

floods, mass movement and Earthquake). The

pattern of distribution was similar to that of

global natural disaster events. However, a total of

173 hydro-meteorological disasters were found

to have decreased from 195 events in compari-

son to the preceding decade (2001-2011). The

EMDAT data base show that the average number

of victim (139.77 million) reported during (2001

– 2010) was decreased to 108.70 Million in the

year 2011, while the economic loss (70.72U$) due

to hydrological disasters increased significantly

compared to the preceding decade (2001-2010)

[Table-1.1(b)]. The overall economic loss due to

various types of disasters during the year 2011

was found to be due to earthquake disaster (US$

230.30), which more in comparison to the pre-

ceding decade (2001 – 2010), which was about

62.90 % of the total economic loss (366.12 during

the year 2011

The analyses of global disaster data showed

that the mortality of people during various types


| 3 |

Disaster Number Disaster Victims in millions Economics loss

2001-2010 Average

2011 occurrence

2001-2010 Average (Million)

Victim2011(million)

2001-2010 Average

(US$) (Billion)

Damage2011 (US$) (Billion)

Flood, Landslide (Hydrological)

195 173 139.77 108.70 21.09 70.72

Cyclone, Storms (Meterological)

105 84 38.52 39.10 54.77 50.87

Drought, Heat-Cold (Climatological)

50 39 77.23 64.60 9.10 14.23

Earthquke (Geo-Physical,Volcano)

35 36 8.92 1.76 24.08 230.30

Total 385 332 264.44 214.16 109.04 366.12

Table1.1(b): A brief on global Natural disasters in 2011 [Source: www.emdat.be]

of disasters in the year 2011 was varied unevenly

in different continents of the globe. Figure 1.1 (c)

suggests that the Asia continent was most affect-

ed (89%) by different types of disaster in the year

2011 in comparison to those of other continents,

which infer that the Asia is most prone to natural

hazards both in terms of loss of lives and prop-

erty. Most interestingly, the disaster economic

costs of different continents in the year 2011 also

witnessed the highest zone of the economic loss

(75%) in comparison to those of other continents

of the globe (Fig 1.1d).

Figure 1.1(c): Disaster mortality of different continent (in %) during the year 2011

Figure1.1(d): Distribution of Disaster Economic costs of different Continents (in %) during the year 2011

The South Asia ScenarioDuring the year 2011, South Asia region wit-

nessed a large number of natural and man- made

disasters of varying frequency and magnitude. In

terms of impacts of these disasters, 2011 is also

one of the most devastating years for the SAARC

region.

Table 1.3 demonstrates that a total of 291

natural disasters occurred in South Asia, which

constituted about 96.5% of the total natural di-

sasters (302) that occurred in the globe (Table

1.1a). This again inferred that majority of natural

| 4 |

Introduction

disasters were concentrated in South Asia. The

compilation of Disaster events by SDMC team

from various sources, including SDMC and EM-

DAT showed that number of landslide occurred

in South Asia was the highest (131), followed by

earthquake events (121), and flood (16).

Figure 1.2(a) shows that the percentage dis-

tribution of natural events in Nepal (39.55%) and

India (24.39%) was higher than the other Member

States of SAARC during the year 2011. The per-

centage distribution of events in other SAARC

Member States showed non-uniform distribution

of natural events, such as Afghanistan (14.77%);

Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka

Total

Drought 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Earthquake 34 0 1 27 1 45 13 0 121

Epidemic 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2

Extreme temperature

0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 6

Flood 2 1 0 7 0 2 1 3 16

Avalanche 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 8

Landslide 3 25 1 32 0 63 7 0 131

Storm 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 1 6

Total 43 29 2 71 2 115 24 5 291

Table1.3: Number of Natural Disaster Events in South Asia

Source-EM- DAT and data compiled by SDMC from various media source

Bangladesh (9.96%); Bhutan(0.68%); Maldives

(0.68%); Pakistan ( 8.25%); and Sri Lanka(1.72%).

Fig1.2(a): Distribution of disaster Events country wise in South Asia 2011

Cyclone Earth-quake

Drought Avalanche Flood H&C waves

Land slides Epidemic Total

Afghanistan 21 - - 24 62 - 3 - 110

Bangladesh 13 - - - 10 62 25 - 110

Bhutan - 1 - - - - 1 - 2

India 106 112 - - 608 212 32 - 1070

Maldives - - - - - 4 4

Nepal - 7 - 6 104 42 63 - 222

Pakistan - 2 - 3 509 7 - 521

Sri Lanka 22 - - - 65 24 167 278

Total 162 122 - 33 1358 316 155 171 2317

Table1.4: Pattern of Disaster Death in South Asia2011

Source:EM- DAT and data compiled by SDMC from various media sources


| 5 |

Table 1.4 shows that a total of 2317 people

were killed in various disasters related events in

the SAARC region in the year 2011. The maximum

number of people killed in India (1070) followed

by Pakistan (521), Sri Lanka (278) and Nepal (222).

The percentage distribution of people killed dur-

ing the year 2011 demonstrated different intensi-

ty of disaster events that killed people differently

as shown in Figure 1.2(b). In the Year 2011, South

Asia witnessed maximum number of causali-

ties that occurred due hydro-meteorological and

geological / geophysical disaster events (Fig. 1.2c).

However, the total number of deaths in the

region during 2011 due to natural disasters is

lesser (2317) than the total number of deaths

occurred (3863) in the preceding year 20103. The

devastations caused by cyclonic storms in the

SAARC region during the year 2011was also found

to be lesser (162) in comparison to the preced-

ing year 2010 (299)3. The number of deaths due

to avalanches in the region was also significantly

lesser than the previous year. The distribution

of landslideds also shows that there is a declin-

ing trend which can be attributed to a reflection

of intensified landslide mitigation measures and

community awareness in the region. Deaths due

to earthquakes, it was found that a total of 122

people were killed in the SAARC region during

the year 2011, among which 112 were from In-

dia, seven from Nepal, two from Pakistan, and one

from Bhutan. The loss of lives in South Asia due to

earthquake in the year 2011was mainly due to the

18th September 2011 Sikkim – Nepal earthquake

(Mw 6.9) that rocked the border area of Nepal

and the Sikkim province of India. However, the

South Asia region, during the year 2011 witnessed

much higher casualties on account of man- made

disasters (i.e., Industrial, chemical, fire accidents,

road, rail, boat accidents, bomb blasts, stampedes,

epidemics etc) compared to the year 2010. The re-

gion during the year 2011 also witnessed a num-

ber of forest fires in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhu-

tan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The analyses of Figure 1.2 (c) showed that

more than 58% of people died in natural disasters

in year 2011, which was mainly attributed to the

Flood in which about 46% casulities accounted for

India. People killed due to extreme temperature in

South Asia was estimated 11.63% while casualities

caused by earthquke and landslide were estimat-

ed as 6.68% and 5.26% respectevily. In comprision

to 2010, the occurrences of hydrometeorological

disasters during 2011 in the South Asia may be

due to climate change and global warming . The

climate change influnced the statistices of rain-

falls in this region causing urban flooding in most

part of India , Sri Lanka and Pakistan .

Fig1.2(b): A disgram showing country wise Percentage of death by Natural Disaster in year 2011

Fig1.2(c):Showing the death percentage by different natural calamities in Year 2011

| 6 |

Introduction

Cyclone Earth-quake


Land slides

Epi-demic

Total

Afghanistan 5 - 1750000 - 12810 - - - 1762815

Bangladesh 121 - - - 1570559 102000 - - 1672680

Bhutan - 20016 - - - - - - 20016

India 250050 575200 - - 12004069 - - - 12829319

Maldives - - - - - - - 1289 1289

Nepal - 167949 - - 1858 25000 - - 194807

Pakistan - 1000 - - 5400755 - - - 5401755

Sri Lanka 35041 - - - 1293924 - - 26343 1355308

Total 285217 764165 1750000 - 20283975 127000 - 27632 23237989

Table1.5: Number of people affected by Natural Disasters in South Asia 2011

Source-EM- DAT and data compiled by SDMC from various media source

The information collected from the national

news bulletins of the SAARC members coun-

tries as well as global data source indicated

that about 23,23,7,989 people were affected due

to natural events especially by flood, drought,

cyclone, earthquake , extreme temperature , ava-

lanche and landslide in SAARC member coun-

tries during the year 2011(Table 1.5). People

affected due to natural disasters in region

(Table 1.5) shows that most affected people be-

longed to Pakistan, Bangladesh and India in

which majority of them were affected by flood. In

Afghanistan severe drought had huge impact

on natural resource causing poverty and water

scarcity. About 1750000 people were affected by

drought in various provinces of Afghanistan in

the year 2011. Another natural disaster, like Cy-

clone “Thane” hit some parts of India. Sri Lanka

experienced damage in year 2011. According to

database of EMDAT, about 285217 people affect-

ed by Cyclone in SAARC region during this year

(Table 1.5). The economic damages estimated

due to natural disasters in the year 2011 in South

Asia was found to be in a tune of US$ 4796 Mil-

lion as detailed deistribution of economic dam-

age are shown in Table 1.6.

Cyclone Earth-quake


Land slides

Epidemic Total

Afghanistan - 142000 - 1654000 - - - 1796000

Bangladesh - - - - - - - - -

Bhutan - - - - - - - - -

India 375625 - - - - - - - 375625

Maldives - - - - - - - - -

Nepal - - - - - - - - -

Pakistan - - - - 2500000 - - - 2500000

Sri Lanka - - - - 500000 - - - 500000

Total 375625 - 142000 - 4654000 - - - 5171625

Table1.6: Economic damage (US$000) due in Disasters in South Asia2011

Source:EM- DAT and data compiled by SDMC from various media source


| 7 |

Comprehensive data on damage and loss

due to disasters in South Asia region is not avail-

able from any single source, which, however es-

timates losses only in respect of five countries of

South Asia, i.e., Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Ne-

pal and Sri Lanka. SDMC has corroborated with

its own collected data from various sources of

Member States with that of EM-DAT4 to make

a comprehensive analyses to understand the

trend and impact of various kinds of disasters.

EMDAT classifies countries in terms of two cat-

egories: those countries that were the worst af-

fected in terms of the number of people killed;

and secondly a set of those countries which

were affected due to the natural disasters in

terms of number of people. EMDAT may not re-

cord the disaster events due to avalanches and

landslides. EMDAT takes into consideration only

those disaster events in which ten or more per-

sons were killed or 100 or more people were

injured. This may not be the criteria for other or-

ganizations. Although reliance has been placed

on EM-DAT database for uniformity in approach,

wherever discrepancies were noticed, the data

from published government reports were used

to supplement the international data base. As

mentioned above, SAARC Disaster Management

Centre has also established a mechanism for

bringing out daily disaster reports and weekly

disaster reports based on credible media report-

ing from South Asia. These daily / weekly infor-

mation were used strategically to fill information

gaps and supplement EM-DAT data. In addition,

data collected from various sources5,6, SDMC also

compiled data from its own source i.e., from the

daily information collected from daily news pa-

per reports and survey of news bulletins from

all the SAARC member countries and compiled

comprehensive data6. All these data sources

were used for preparation of South Asia Disaster

Report, 2011.

The year 2011 started with a tragic incident

which occurred in Anantapur district in Andhra

Pradesh, India on the New Year eve, when a lorry

hit an auto rickshaw coming in the opposite di-

rection resulting in the instant death of 11 per-

sons on the spot on January 1, 2011. The year

also witnessed a major stampede incident on

January 14, at a Hindu shrine in Pamba at Sabari-

mala in the Pattanamthitta district of Kerala,

India, wich resulted in killing of 102 pilgrims and

injuring at least 100 more. The year 2011 also wit-

nessed a major fire accident on 9th December

2011 in AMRI Hospital which is located in Kol-

kata in which the fire killed 91 patients, including

three hospital staffers. The year 2011 ended with

a natural disaster in the form of Cyclone, "Thane"

that hit Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puduch-

ery states of India. The south-eastern coastline of

India was affected severely that resulted in death

of over 53 people and caused severe damage to

property, infrastructure and environment. Dur-

ing the year, the response from Governments in

South Asia to natural disasters was overall very

encouraging and well structured. Response, res-

cue, relief and rehabilitation were followed by

SAARC Member States under their long term

mitigation and risk reduction programs for major

disasters were encouraging.

This South Asia Disaster Report, 2011 gives

an account of all the natural as well as man-

made disasters, which occurred in South Asia

region during the year 2011. The report also

analyzes how these disaster events were man-

aged, responded to, and highlights the signifi-

cant steps taken up by the concerned countries

for disaster relief, response, recovery and long

term mitigation. Subsequent chapters have

| 8 |

Introduction

captured the incidence of major natural and

man - made disasters in all the SAARC member

countries, and dealt at length how these disas-

ters were responded and also brought into fo-

cus the achievements and shortcomings in pre-

paredness, response, relief, rehabilitation and

recovery and also the lessons learnt from these

disaster events of 2011. Since it is not possible

to provide detailed accounts of all the disasters

that occurred due to time and space limitations,

an attempt is made in the present South Asia

Disaster Report, 2011 to cover all the major and

important disaster events that occurred in the

SAARC region during the year 2011.

References1. Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2011: The Num-

bers and Trends. Centre for Research on the Epide-

miology of Disasters (CRED), Leuven, Belgium.

2. http://cred.be/sites/default/files/Press_Release_

UNISDR-2011_03.pdf.

3. South Asia Disaster Reports 2008, 2009 & 2010.

Published by the SAARC Disaster Management

Centre.

4. EM-DAT: www.emdat.be.

5. SAARC Member Country Reports, Newspapers

and other sources

6. Weekly Disaster Updates, SAARC Disaster Man-

agement Centre, New Delhi


| 9 |

An OverviewMany of the South Asian countries, especially

those bound by coastline have been perennially

vulnerable to the threat of cyclones arising in

the North Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. How-

ever, in 2011, the devastations caused by storms

and cyclones in the SAARC countries were much

less than the preceding year. As per the Em-dat

sources (Appendix II, Table 2.1., Fig. 2.1), there

were six disturbances in the year 2011 and the

number of people killed was also appreciably

less, 162 as compared to 265 people killed in

the year 2010 in South Asia1. In 2010, there were

two Severe Cyclonic Storms (SCS), Laila and Jal

and one Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Phet

Chapter 2

Cyclone

whereas, in the year 2011 there was only one

VSCS, "Thane" that hit the south-eastern coast of

India and parts of Sri Lanka. The frequency dis-

tribution of cyclonic disturbances for the period

1997-2011 shows a current receding trend in

the frequency of occurrence in the region (fig-

ure 2.1) in an overall waxing and waning trend.

It shows a decreasing trend from 1998 to 2000

after which the frequency of cyclones in the re-

gion reached a plateau continuing up to 2003

only to spiral up into an increasing trend ending

in 2007. The frequency has followed a decreas-

ing trend since then although; the region has

been a sufferer to some major cyclones in this

later phase too.

Start End Country Location(s) Disaster type

Disaster sub type

Name Killed Total affected

10/02/2011 14/02/2011 Afghanistan Daykundi Storm Local Storm

21 5

04/04/2011 04/04/2011 Bangladesh Sherpur, Mymensingh,

Rang

Storm Local Storm

1'3 121

15/04/2011 15/04/2011 India Karnataka State

Storm Local Storm

17

29/12/2011 30/12/2011 India Cuddalore, Puducherry

Storm Tropical Cyclone

Cyclone Thane

47 250000

20/05/2011 20/05/2011 India Uttar Pradesh

Storm Local Storm

42 50

24/11/2011 27/11/2011 Sri Lanka South Storm Local Storm

22 35041

Table 2.1. Storms in the South Asian region in 2011 (Source: www.emdat.be).

| 10 |

IntroductionCyclone

Figure 2.1:Number of cyclonic disturbances in South Asian region (Data Source: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and www.emdat.be).

Figure 2.2:Percentage of storm events in South Asia between 2000 and 2011 (Data source: www.emdat.be).

An analysis of the number of storm events in

the region for the period 2000-2011 shows (Fig.

2.2) that Bangladesh, with its exposed coastline,

had the major share of the storms in the region

followed closely by India. Among the other coun-

tries, Sri Lanka though shows lesser number of

storm events as compared to Afghanistan and

Pakistan, it has bore the brunt of some of the ma-

jor cyclones arising in the North Indian Ocean.

Figure 2.3: Number of people killed in South Asia due to storms in the year 2011 (Data source: www.emdat.be).

Figure 2.4:Percentage of people killed in South Asia due to storms in 2011 (Data source: www.emdat.be).

The year 2011 witnessed lesser number of

deaths in the region due to storm events, India

recording the maximum among them (106, 65%,

Fig. 2.3 and Fig.2.4. Table 2.1). One of the remark-

able features of the storm incidents in 2011 was

that Bangladesh, one of the high cyclone risk

countries and bearer of the scars of many past

cyclones, recorded lesser number of fatalities as

compared to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka (Fig. 2.3

and Fig. 2.4).

Incidence of Storms and Cyclones in the South Asian Countries in 2011

Storm (April 4, 2011)

At the onset of the summer season in the

month of April, a storm lashed across parts of

Bangladesh. Seven districts namely, Jamalpur,

Sherpur, Mymensinh, Gaibandha, Joupurhat and

Bogra were affected taking a toll of 13 lives and

nearly 121 people affecting. It caused a large

scale uprooting of trees and electric poles; bat-

tering and destruction of thatched houses to

various degrees; damage to crops and infra-

structure (Fig. 2.5. 2.6). Gaibandha was severely

affected, nearly 45 people were injured and over

800 houses were damaged in the storm while in

Sherpur nearly 300 houses were damaged2, 3.


| 11 |

Figure 2.5:Damage caused by storm in parts of Bangladesh (Source: The Daily Star).

Figure 2.6:Thatched houses affected by the storm in Bangladesh (Source: http://www.worldvision.com).

Storm (April 15, 2011)

Many parts of India experienced strong

winds associated with lightning and thunder-

storms before the onset of summer. The sudden

downpour and the lashing rains disrupted life

and in some cases, claimed some lives. In such

incidents, 17 people lost their lives in different

parts of Karnataka, out of which 14 lost their lives

in lightning and other three died due to houses

collapse. House collapses killed two persons in

Ramanagara and one in Udupi. In Yembhatahalli

in Bijapur district, about 35 houses were dam-

aged in the heavy rains, but no casualties were

reported4.

Storm (May 20, 2011)

During a spell of rising heat in the begin-

ning of summer, many parts of India experienced

local storm. In one such event in May, 42 people

perished and 50 were injured in the storm when

torrential rains and thunderstorms lashed Uttar

Pradesh in northern part of India.

The affected districts were Ghaziabad, Shah-

jahanpur, Budaun, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Lakh-

impur-Kheri and Lucknow where strong winds

lashed early in the morning. The storm uproot-

ed electricity poles and trees (Fig. 2.7), snapped

communication links, knocked down hoardings

and also crushed mud-thatched houses. Shahja-

hanpur was the worst hit, with 16 people killed in

the storm while in Budaun that lashed in the wee

hours of the morning5.

Figure 2.7:Uprooting of trees due to storm in Uttar Pradesh, India (Source: www. ibnlive.in.com)

Storm (November 24-27, 2011)

Heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds

lashed the southern coastal areas of Sri Lanka

in November killing 22 people and rendered

many fishermen homeless. The southern district

of Matara was very badly hit where 8980 peo-

ple were affected, 282 houses were fully dam-

aged while another 1783 houses were partially

damaged. Other affected districts were Badulla,

Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Batticaloa. The af-

| 12 |

Introduction

fected areas witnessed widespread uprooting of

trees and electricity transmission towers; damages

to houses, roads, and bridges and disrupted the

common life for a prolonged period. Fallen trees

disrupted communication and due to damages

to the electricity transmission lines vast areas of

the districts experienced outage. The heavy rains

that accompanied the gale winds added further

misery to the affected (Fig. 2.8. 2.9). Rivers and

streams swelled and the major reservoirs in many

cases overflowed, as a result two people lost their

lives while crossing overflowing streams6,7,8,9.

Cyclone

Figure 2.8:Emergency rescue team carrying an affected woman to safety during the Sri Lanka storm (Source: http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com)

Figure 2.9:Lives of common people affected in the storm in Sri Lanka. (Source: http://indiatvnews.com).

to consolidate over a weak low level circulation

centre, which was being fed by enhanced west-

erly flow associated with the precursor system to

another Tropical Cyclone Benilde. Under the influ-

ence of this, the disturbance developed further

while moving towards northwest. The Joint Ty-

phoon Warning Centre (JTWC) then issued a tropi-

cal cyclone formation alert on the system during

December 25 before designating as Tropical Cy-

clone. Based on one minute wind speed near the

centre of the disturbance, that had reached 65

km/h (40 mph), 3TWC upgraded the status of the

alert to Tropical Storm. On the same day Indian

Meteorological Department (IMD) also reported

that the disturbance had organised sufficiently to

be termed a Depression located nearly 1,000 km

(620 mi) to the southeast of Chennai. On Decem-

ber 26, IMD had reported that the depression had

intensified into a Deep Depression and later in the

day, on the basis of advanced stage of intensifica-

tion of the system upgraded its status to Cyclonic

Storm and termed it "Thane". Subsequent to that,

"Thane" got oriented towards west under the influ-

ence of a subtropical ridge of high pressure. The

cyclonic storm further intensified on December 28

and developed 1-minute wind speed of 120 km/h

(75m/h) and later in the day it was termed Very Se-

vere Cyclonic Storm (Fig. 2.10). On the same day,

upon further intensification, Thane developed a

small pinhole eye of nearly 20 km (10 mi) radius

and the wind speed increased considerably (150

km/h or 90 m/h) (Fig. 2.11, 2.12). The VSCS Thane

continued moving further westwards and on De-

cember 30 made landfall between Cuddalore

and Puducherry in the north Tamilnadu coast. Af-

ter interacting with the land the frictional forces

weakened it into a Depression. IMD continued to

monitor Thane till it turned into a well marked low

pressure area on December 3110, 11, 12, 13.

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, Thane

(December 30, 2011)

It developed initially as a tropical disturbance

within a monsoon trough in the east of Indonesia.

Convection surrounding the system had started

Cyclone


| 13 |

Figure 2.10. Track of Thane (Source: http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/THANE.pdf).

Date Time (UTC)

Centre lat./long.

C.I. No.

Estimated central pressure (hPa)

Estimated maximum sus-tained surface wind (Kt)

Estimated pressure drop at centre (hPa)

Grade

25.12.20111200 8.5/88.5 1.5 1000 25 3 D

1800 9.0/88.0 1.5 1000 25 3 D

26.12.2011

0000 9.5/87.5 2.0 998 30 4 DD

0600 10.0/87.5 2.0 998 30 4 DD

1200 10.5/87.5 2.0 998 30 5 DD

1800 11.0/87.5 2.5 996 35 7 CS

27.12.2011

0000 11.5/87.5 2.5 994 40 8 CS

0600 12.0/87.0 2.5 994 40 8 CS

1200 12.5/86.5 2.5 992 40 10 CS

1800 12.5/86.0 3.0 990 45 12 CS

28.12.2011

0000 12.5/85.5 3.0 990 45 12 CS

0600 12.5/85.0 3.0 988 45 14 CS

0900 12.5/58.0 3.5 986 55 16 SCS

1200 12.5/84.5 4.0 982 65 20 VSCS

1500 12.5/84.0 4.0 980 65 22 VSCS

1800 12.5/84.0 4.0 978 65 24 VSCS

2100 12.5/83.5 4.0 976 65 26 VSCS

29.12.2011

0000 12.3/83.0 4.0 974 70 28 VSCS

0600 12.0/82.0 4.5 972 75 30 VSCS

0900 12.0/81.7 4.5 972 75 30 VSCS

1200 12.0/81.3 4.5 972 75 30 VSCS

1800 12.0/80.6 4.5 972 75 30 VSCS

30.12.2011

0000 11.8/79.9 4.5 972 75 30 VSCS

0300 11.8/79.5 - 986 55 16 SCS

0600 11.8/79.0 - 998 30 5 DD

1200 11.8/78.2 - 1000 25 3 D

31.12.2011 0000 The system weakened into a well marked low pressure area over north Kerala and neighbourhood.

Table 2.2: Chronology of development of VSCS Thane (Source: http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/THANE.pdf).

| 14 |

Introduction

Figure 2.11. Satellite image of Thane cyclone with a well developed eye (Source: http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/THANE.pdf).

Cyclone

Figure 2.12: Enlarged view of the eye of VSCS Thane (Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2011/h2011_Thane.html )


| 15 |

Figure 2.13:3-D images of VSCS Thane (Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2011/h2011_Thane.html)

Figure 2.14: Three days of rainfall rates for VSCS Thane (Source: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2011/h2011_Thane.html

| 16 |

Introduction

The 3-D time series image of the Thane cy-

clone shows the heights of associated thunder-

storms and rates of rainfall. On December 27,

when it was at the stage of Cyclonic Storm, the

system developed convective thunderstorm

towers of nearly 16 km height while on Decem-

ber 29, before making landfall and developing

into VSCS the height of the thunderstorm tow-

ers deceased13 (Fig. 2.13). Conversely, the rainfall

on 27th was 0.78 to 1.57 inches (20-40 mm) which

peaked to 2 inches (50 mm) before Thane made

landfall (Fig. 2.14). The intensification of rainfall

subsided once Thane made landfall and moved

inland in a weakened state13.

The build up and ultimate landfall of the

VSCS Thane induced widespread and intense

rainfall in the coastal parts of India in North In-

Figure 2.15 :Cyclone-affected areas of Tamil Nadu (Source: Punithavati et al, 2012).

dian Ocean. The following table 2.3 lists the

amount of rainfall received in the affected areas

by December 31 during the cyclone14.

Cyclone


| 17 |

STATE: KERALA

NAME OF PLACE RAINFALL (mm)

Haripad (Alapuzha dt) 22

Thiruvananthapuram 18

Nedumangad (Tiruvana-thapuram dt)

16

Kayamkulam (Alapuzha dt) 15

Thiruvalla (Pattanamthitta dt) 14

Chengannur (Alapuzha dt) 12

Neyyatinkara (Tiruvanan-thapuram dt)

11

Mavelikara (Alapuzha dt) 10

Konni (Pattanamthitta dt) 9

Kanjirapally (Kottayam dt) 9

Kottayam, Alapuzha 9

Varkala (Thiruvananthapuram dt) 7

Kozha (Kottayam dt) 7

STATE: TAMIL NADU

NAME OF PLACE RAINFALL (mm)

Kallakurichi (Villupuram dt) 18

Gingee (Villupuram dt) 16

Sankarapuram (Villupuram dt) 14

Mylaudy and Nagerkoil (both Kanyakumari dt)

14

Uthiramerur (Kanchipuram dt) 13

Kuzhithurai (Kanyakumari dt) 13

Virudhachalam (Cuddalore dt) 12

Cheyyar (Tiruvannamalai dt) 12

Mancompu (Alapuzha dt) 11

Tozhudur (Cuddalore dt) 11

Tirukoilur (Villupuram dt) 11

Polur 11

Vanthavasi 11

Sathanur Dam (all Tiruvannama-lai dt)

11

Kanchipuram 10

Maduranthagam (Kanchipuram dt)

10

Arani (Tiruvannamalai dt) 10

Chengalpattu (Kanchipuram dt) 9

Chembarambakkam (Tiruvallur dt)

9

Ulundurpet (Villupuram dt) 9

Tiruvannamalai 9

Punalur 8

Tiruvallur 8

Boothapandy (Kanyakumari dt) 8

Kanyakumari 8

Chengam (Tiruvannamalai dt) 8

Sholingur (Vellore dt) 8

Chennai airport 7

Cheyyur, Kelambakkam 7

Sriperumpudhur 7

Poonamalli 7

Ramakrishnarajupet 7

Tiruvalangadu 7

Tiruttani 7

Sethiyathope (Cuddalore dt) 7

Tindivanam (Villupuram dt) 7

Kumbakonam (Thanjavur dt) 7

Arakonamand Kaveripakkam 7

Vellore 7

Attur (Salem dt) 7

Coonoor 7

Jayamkondam (Ariyalur dt) 7

Padallur (Perambalur dt) 7

Table 2.3:Amont of rainfall received in the affected parts of India due to VSCS Thane (Source Punithavati et al. 2012).

Tamil Nadu experienced maximum damage

due to VSCS Thane. It affected the districts of Cud-

dalore, Villipuram, Kanjipuram, Thiruvallur, Chen-

nai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and the Puducherry

state. The entire eastern coastal belt of Tamil Nadu

was hit, the accentuation being more in the north-

ern half. Huts, houses with tiled and asbestos roofs

and concrete houses, were damaged either fully or

| 18 |

Introduction

partially15. In Puducherry and Cuddalore the most

damaged structures were the huts with thatched

roofs and wooden frames. Large scale uprooting

of trees and inundated roads caused hindrance to

relief and rescue operations. The cyclone affected

the power production by Neyvelli Lignite Corpo-

ration as the mines were submerged. However, in

view of advance warnings, the state and district

authorities especially in the coastal parts were in a

state of preparedness. Nearly 6000 people living in

low lying areas of Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Thiru-

vallur, Nagapattinam, Villupuram and Chennai

were evacuated to safer places. The details of dam-

ages in Tamil Nadu are in the following table 2.4.

Cyclone

S. No.

Types of damages Units

1.Agriculture damagesi) Horticulture crops

80,609 hec 28,090 hec

2.Settlement damagesi) Thatched houses damagesii) Tiled house damages

2,67,92581,292

3. Roadways damages 1458 kms

4.

Biological damages i) Human beingii) Goat, Cow, Ox & Buffalo iii) Chickens iv) Duckv) Dove and Kadai variety

46 persons519 Nos

52,938 Nos285 Nos

6200 Nos

5.Boat damagesi) Fisher net damages

4600 Nos1,94,949 Nos

6.

Electrical goods damagesi) Electrical postii) Transformsiii) High level towersiv) Electric line or wires

45,460 Nos4500 Nos

27 Nos12,100 kms

Table 2.4:Damages in Affected parts of India due to VSCS Thane (Source: Punithavati et al, 2012).

The cyclone caused extensive devastation in

the affected parts of the southern coast of India.

The gale pushed a cargo ship aground off Chen-

nai and also damaged 70 fishing boats16. Crops

in the affected areas also suffered heavy damage.

Nearly 1, 00,000 acres of cultivated crop, mainly

standing paddy crops were damaged in the foul

weather and associated torrential rain. Though

the early warnings and alerts issued by the au-

thorities were helpful in helping some fishermen

shifting their boats to safer locations, many other

fishermen suffered huge losses. Due to the foul

weather and poor visibility conditions in the cy-

clone, 40 Indian fishermen had drifted away and

were later rescued by Sri Lankan authorities17.

The fury of the cyclone left behind a trail of

destruction (Fig. 2.16- 2.19). Trees were uprooted,

traffic signals were ripped off their bases and

advertisement boards mounted on frames were

torn apart and tossed about in the cyclone rav-

aged areas. Broken glass from street lights, shards

from window panes and other debris remained

suspended on inundated roads. Mobile servic-

es experienced outage and could be restored

Figure 2.16:Damage caused to property in Cuddalorects. (Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com)

Figure 2.17:Damages due to gusty winds in the wake of Thane in Puducherry 2011. (Source: http://www.spxdaily.com/images-lg/

cyclone-thane-india-jan-2012-afp-lg.jpg)


| 19 |

Figure 2.18: Mangled electricity transmission towers in Puducherry (www. archivenews.blogspot.com)

Figure 2.19:Thane cyclone disrupting electricity services in Puduchhery (www. archivenews.blogspot.com)

later5. The national and state authorities came

forward to the relief and rehabilitation of the af-

fected people. Tamil Nadu announced a recov-

ery package of Rs 700 crore to provide immedi-

ate succour to Cyclone Thane ravaged areas. The

amount was in addition to Rs 150 crore released

earlier for immediate relief work, including resto-

ration work of badly damaged infrastructure in

the coastal district of Cuddalore, most devastat-

ed by the cyclone, which claimed 47 lives in the

state and neighboring Puducherry. Authorities

stepped up relief work and efforts to restore nor-

malcy5.

References:1. South Asia Disaster report 2010. SAARC Disaster

Management Centre.

2. http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/

April%2011/5-4-2011.htm.

3. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_

news.php?nid=29210.

4. http://news.oneindia.in.

5. www.ibnlive.in.com.

6. http://www.asiantribune.com/news.

7. http://www.sott.net.

8. http://reliefweb.int.

9. http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com.

10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Thane.

11. http://www.webcitation.org/64KoCl7UT.

12. http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/

THANE.pdf.

13. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/

archives/2011/h2011_Thane.html.

14. Punithavati J, Tamilenthi S and Baskaran R (2012)

A study of Thane cyclone and its impacts in Tamil

Nadu, India using Geographic Information System:

archives of Applies Scientific Research 4(1): 685-695.

15. http://bedroc.in/sites/default/files/IAG_TN_meet-

ing_minutes_5_Jan12-Cyclone_Thane.pdf.

16. www.ptinews.com.

17. http://www.indianexpress.com.

| 20 |

Introduction

Chapter 3

The South Asia region is one of the most flood

prone regions in the world. SAARC member

countries like Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and

Pakistan face floods on an annul basis. In these

countries, floods are a recurrent phenomenon,

and cause huge loss of lives and damage to liveli-

hood systems, property, infrastructure and public

utilities, thereby adversely affecting the econo-

mies of these countries. Floods in the SAARC

region claim thousands of lives in addition to

leaving millions homeless. It is a cause for con-

cern that the flood related damages are show-

ing an increasing trend in the region. Floods also

cause severe damages to bridges, buildings, road

network, distributory canals etc., in addition to

disrupting transportation and communication

systems and causing damages to crops and veg-

etation. Floods also cause the outbreak of epi-

Flood

demics and waterborne diseases in these coun-

tries. The frequency of major and catastrophic

floods in most parts of the South Asia region is

more than once in five years. In the SAARC re-

gion, floods have also occurred in areas, which

were earlier not considered to be flood prone.

This phenomena can be attributed to many rea-

sons including global warming, rapid increase in

population and urbanisation coupled with grow-

ing developmental and economic activities in

the flood plains of the region.

The Figure below shows the number of people

affected and killed due to floods in the SAARC

member countries during the year 2011(Fig:3.1).

The details of important flood events occurred

during the year 2011 in the SAARC member

countries are given below and the details of indi-

vidual events are tabulated in Appendix-III

Figure 3.1:Total number of people affected & killed due to Floods in SAARC Member Countries


| 21 |

Afghanistan During the year 2011, floodwaves started

much earlier in Afghanistan. Most parts of the

country witnessed heavy rains during February,

2011, which have led to much devastation, some-

thing which is unusual during this time of the

year. During the first half of February, 2011, flash

floods and heavy snowfall killed 25 people and

damaged up to 3,000 houses in different parts

of Afghanistan. Shindand district in the western

province of Herat was among the worst affected

areas where, in addition to four deaths over a

dozen people were injured and almost 2,600 fam-

ilies were affected. On 5th February, 2011, heavy

rains and flash floods in Parwan, Herat, Wardak

and Daykundi provinces in Afghanistan killed 25

people and caused damage to more than 3000

houses. Flash floods in Ghoryan and Injil districts

of western Herat province killed 3 people and

destroyed more than 360 houses. As many as

262 houses were devastated in Injil district alone.

Afghanistan National Disaster Management Au-

thority (ANDMA) provided each affected family

with 50 Kg of wheat, 25 kg of rice, 10 kg of ghee

and beans, one tent, a plastic rug and two blan-

kets. The flood also completely damaged the

Herat- Islam Qala road. On 6th February, 2011,

flash floods demolished 160 houses (95 houses

in Khah-i-Sufaid district and 65 in Pusht-i-Koh dis-

trict ) in the Farah province of Afghanistan. These

flash floods also demolished several other build-

ings and structures of the Farah province alone

and also killed several animals, besides causing

damage to large circle of agricultural land. On 8

February, 2011, floods in western Herat province

killed 6 people and caused huge damages to

hundreds of houses and thousands of hectares

of agricultural lands besides causing damage to

roads buildings and other infrastructure.

Tens of residential houses were destroyed

in rains and heavy floods in Ashmakash and

Chal districts of Takhar province on 12 April,

2011. Hundreds of acres of agricultural lands

were destroyed and many cattle also perished

in the event. These flash floods claimed doz-

ens of lives and washed many houses in the

southern Kandahar province also. Floods in

eastern Ghazni province destroyed a bridge

and blocked the Kabul-Kandahar highway

apart from washing away around 3,000 houses.

On 5 May, 2011, five members of a family were

among 7 people killed and 27 others injured as

a result of rain-induced floods, which washed

away huge tracts of arable land in western Af-

ghanistan. In central Parwan and Panjsher prov-

inces, floods closed roads and washed away

hundreds of acres of land.

Fig.3.2 : A helicopter with security personnel assisting rescue operations during Flash floods that killed 12 people on 9May,2011 in northern

Afghanistan (Source: Press TV)

Many houses were damaged in the Fan-

duqsan valley of Siah Gird district of Parwan

due to these floods. On 9 May, 2011, at least

12 people were killed due to flash floods un-

leashed by heavy rains in northern Afghani-

stan. Helicopters were pressed into service

for undertaking relief and rescue operations

(Fig 3.2)

| 22 |

IntroductionFlood

Flash floods caused by torrential rains killed

4 people and caused huge damage and losses

of property in different areas of eastern Kunar

province on 05 August, 2011. The floodwaters

also destroyed a bridge connecting the provin-

cial capital to several districts. The bridge con-

necting Nuristan province to Kunar was also de-

stroyed by the flood. Again on 29th August, 2011,

floods occurred again due to heavy rainfall in Na-

zyan district of eastern Nagarhar Province. All the

flood-affected families were provided with food

and other relief items. In addition to food items,

kitchenware, water pots, blankets and tarpaulins

were also distributed to the victims. The Rural

Rehabilitation & Development Department was

involved in supplying these relief items to the af-

fected families. The Afghan Red Crescent Society

and the World Food Program also provided the

affected families with relief supply assistance.

Reconstruction of all the buildings, retraining

walls and water channels that were destroyed

by these flash floods were taken up by the Gov-

ernment of Afghanistan in the areas hit by these

flood disasters.

On 28 August, 2011, a minor was killed and

dozens of houses were flattened and large areas

of cultivable land was washed away and dozens

of cattle were killed when flash floods caused by

heavy downpour hit several districts of Nangar-

har province4. The flash floods triggered by heavy

rains killed 3 people and swept away thousands

of acres of agricultural land in central Logar prov-

ince also. Districts including Mohammad Agha,

Baraki Barak and Charkh were the most affected

areas, where more than 10,000 acres of agricul-

tural land was destroyed. Most of the flood af-

fected land was cultivated with bean, potato, on-

ion and maize crops.

On 30 August 2011, floods in the eastern

province of Nangarhar also killed three people

and damaged eighty acres of agricultural land5.

The rainwater destroyed several bridges and

roads in the high way. Due to these floods Tork-

ham-Jalalabad highway was also damaged, seri-

ously disrupting the road transportation (Fig: 3.3).

Fig: 3.3 :A photo showing road transportation on Torkham-Jalalabad highway affected by Floods Source: PAN (GHAZNI CITY)

The heavy rains during 28-30 August,

2011 had also damaged many acres of

grape farms in southern Ghazni province

capital,Ghazni city6.The area has hundreds of

grape farms and local residents are depen-

dent upon grape farming. Rains and floods

destroyed all these grape farms last year also.

During these floods also, all farms of grapes in

the Andar district were completely damaged by

the heavy downpour. 10 houses and 90 acres of

land were also destroyed in Haiderkhel, Alikhel

and Qarakhel villages, where several domestic

animals were also killed. On 14 September, 2011,

heavy rains and floods caused severe losses

to residents of Paktika and Khost provinces. 4

houses were completely destroyed and 175

acres of cropped land was washed away in the

Guli Qala village, while tens of houses and 90

acres of land were also destroyed in Haiderkhel,

Alikhel and Qarakhel villages. Elsewhere in Khost


| 23 |

province, 36 people were killed, 53 others seri-

ously injured, 781 houses and 2,750 acres of land

were destroyed by these floods in different areas

of the province. In the eastern province of Nan-

garhar itself, nearly 641 houses were destroyed

and more than 900 acres of cropped land was

washed away by these floods. The floods also

killed many livestock besides damaging dozens

of reconstruction projects in Hesarak, Khogyani

& Chaparhar districts. More than 435 houses, 750

acres of land, 35 kilometres of water channels

and 20 water heads were also destroyed and 200

animals killed in Sarando, Nawar and Lagigar vil-

lages of Hesarak. These floods caused closure of

Kabul-Sorbe highway to the passengers. The pas-

sengers who were stranded in the highway faced

severe inconvenience including lack of food and

drinking water.

(Fig: 3.4 Floods kill two children, injured ten in CharikarSource: Bakhtar News Agency)

Two children lost their lives and 10 others

including 8 women were severely wounded in a

heavy flood that occurred due to heavy rainfall in

the vicinities of Charikar city (Fig.3.4) on 5th Oc-

tober7. In addition to human losses, hundreds of

residential houses and agricultural lands were

destroyed and a large number of cattle were also

perished due to these floods in the province. A

number of people whose houses were damaged

due to these floods were forced to shift to the

safer areas.

Bangladesh On 20 February, 2011, the dyke of Kachu-

patra Canal on the border of Kalapara upazila

of Patuakhali district and Amtali upazila of Bar-

guna district collapsed due to a high tide. Saline

water flooded at least 30 villages of these two

upazilas, causing severe damage to property and

crops. The affected villages include Karaibaria,

Kachupatra, Badurgachha, Sarik khali, Balaibunia,

Chaulapara, Hetalbaria, Angaria, North Jharakhali,

South Jharakhali, Behala and Alir Bandar. Water

Development Board (WDB) of the Government

of Bangladesh took up a project with Tk 3.41

crore to build dykes to save the agricultural lands

of these two upazilas from saline water of the

Bay.

On March 20, 2011, a powerful tidal surge

hit Sukhchar union embankment. The tidal

waters marooned at least 300 families at

three villages of Sukhchar union under Hati-

ya upazila. The surge also damaged crops

on about 700 acres of land at Nall Chira, Kela

Danga and Sukhchar upazilas. These tidal wa-

ters also flooded Galachipa, Baufal and Dash-

mina upazilas, damaging crops on hundreds

of acres. The embankment collapsed giving

way to tidal water which submerged all the

three villages. At least 300 landless people

were marooned while peanut, pulse, water

melon, cucumber, pumpkin and other crops

and vegetables went under saline water. In

Patuakhali also low-lying areas of three upazi-

las went under saline water due to tidal surge

causing severe damage to agriculture prop-

erty.

| 24 |

IntroductionFlood

Watermelon in about 500 acres of land was

damaged fully in Patuakhali district alone as tidal

surges under the influence of new moon entered

farmlands (Fig: 3.5). Even after receding of water

from some areas, watermelon continued rotting

due to the effect of salinity. According to the De-

partment of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Govern-

ment of Bangladesh, the watermelon was culti-

vated during this season on 2,800 acres of land in

Patuakhali district alone i.e., 1,000 acres in Gala-

chipa upazila, 450 acres in Kalapara, 550 acres in

Baufal, 600 acres in Dashmina, 100 acres in Sadar

upazila, 60 acres in Mirzaganj and 40 acres in

Dumki.

Tidal surges under the influence of full moon

also hit Paikgacha, Dumuria, Koira upazilas of

Khulna and Mongla upazila of Bagerhat on 20

March, 2011, inundating main roads (Fig: 3.6). Tid-

al water marooned over one lakh people while

the surge damaged several embankments, dwell-

ing houses, hundreds of shrimp enclosures and

crops on vast lands. The embankment at Boalia

under Paikgachha upazila collapsed due to pres-

sure of tidal water from Kobadak River inundat-

ing the entire fishermen's colonies at Hitampur

village and rendering over 200 families homeless.

The surges washed away over 300 shrimp enclo-

sures as water level of the river rised above the

danger mark. Paikgachha bazaar was also in-

undated completely. In Dumuria upazila, over

10,000 people were marooned as strong tidal

surges hit four villages of Shovna union. The riv-

er embankment constructed last year collapsed

due to pressure of water from the Ghengrial

River.The tidal surges also washed away over 200

shrimp enclosures in four affected villages. The

marooned people have taken shelter at differ-

ent neighbouring safe villages and on highlands.

Shikaribari embankment under Koira upazila also

collapsed, inundating six villages of Maheshwari-

pur union and rendering over 400 landless fami-

lies homeless. The surges washed away at least

200 shrimp enclosures and damaged crops in

about 500 acres of land.

(Fig: 3.5 A farmer gives a bleak look at his saline water affected watermelon field at Dakkhin Boalia village in Galachipa upazila of

Patuakhali district. Source: The Daily Star

Fig:3.6: A main road in Mongla town goes under water as tidal surge from the Bay overflows the adjacent Passur River.( Photo: STAR)

In Derai upazila, about 5000 acres of land in

Udgal haor went under water due to breaches

developed on the sluice gate at Ghilakutia. In the

neighbouring Dharmapasha upazila 2,000 acres

of cropland went under water after breaches

developed in Katakhali embankment on Chan-

drasonarthal haor. Locals joined work to repair

the breaches of the embankment with bamboos

and sand bags (Fig: 3.7). Most of the crop fields


| 25 |

in the haors of Sunamganj district were under

water during the period from March 25 to April

20, causing damage to boro crops worth more

than Tk 1127 crore on 193,000 hectares of land.

The Water Development Board (WDB) had given

Tk 20.1 crore for reconstruction and repair of

the 221 km length of embankments in Sunam-

ganj district . The work to protect boro croplands

inside 37 haors in the district began through

258 Project Implementation Committees (PIC)

formed with the locals.

Around 35,000 families, marooned in Bhola

during tidal surge due to depression in the Bay,

havd passed their days amid food and shelter

crisis. Tidal surges caused extensive damages to

the embankment having a paved road at Kak-

para in Pekua upazila under Cox's Bazar district

(Fig 3.8). Several thousand houses in Tulatoli,

Majher Char of Bhola Sadar, Syedpur of Daulat-

khan upazila, Char Nasrin of Tojmuddin uapzila,

Kolatolir Char, Char Nizam of Monpura upazila,

Char Kukri-Mukri, Dhalchar, Char Patila and Sik-

derer Char of Charfassion upazila went under 3

to 4 feet water. Many of the victims passed days

under the open sky as their houses were totally

damaged or washed away. Diarrhea and other

Fig: 3.7: Locals desperately try to repair the breached portion of the embankment at Katakhali on Thal haor (water body) in Chandrasona

under Dharmapasha upazila in Sunamganj district to save from flooding. Photo: STAR

water-borne diseases broke out in water-logged

areas due to lack of pure drinking water and

sanitation facilities. Around 5000 people were

affected with water-borne diseases. Temporary

medical teams were sent to the affected areas

and health officials of upazilas concerned formed

medical teams. According to the district relief of-

fice sources, the extent of loss caused by the de-

pression induced tidal surge was estimated at

Tk 50 crore in seven uapzilas of the district. Fifty

four kilometres of embankment of the Meghna

River was affected while 665 km kutcha road

and 27 km pucca road was damaged. Around

11,000 houses were damaged while 19,000 acres

of cropland went under water. Besides, 250 edu-

cational and religious institutions were affected

and fishes worth about 1 crore Tk washed away.

On 02 July, 2011, several thousand people

of the Netrakona district were marooned and

4000 dwelling houses were damaged due to

flash floods triggered by incessant rains. Low-

lying areas of the district went under water and

the flashflood washed away shrimp enclosures

and fish of various ponds. Standing Aush and

Aman crops were completely damaged due to

stagnant water on the cropland for a long time.

Fig 3.8:Tidal surge causing extensive damage to the embankment having a paved road at Kakpara in Pekua upazila under Cox's Bazar

district. Photo: STAR

| 26 |

IntroductionFlood

Erosion took a serious turn along the western

bank of hill river Someshwary in Dakumara vil-

lage of Durgapur upazila in Netrakona district

(Fig:3.9). Sudden swelling of the river following

heavy rains prompted the erosion. All the flood

affected people were shifted to safer places. The

badly affected areas were Dakumara, Khamarkh-

ali, Shibganj and Birishiri. Local people dumped

sand, bamboo and timber to protect their areas

but the strong currents of the river foiled all their

bids. Khamarkhali bazaar was once a big village

market . But the river had devoured two-thirds of

it. Over 500 families used to live at village Shib-

ganj before the event. But the river engulfed

800 acres of land leaving more than 350 families

homeless during the period. Loading and un-

loading of goods at Mongla port was severely

hampered. Low-lying areas of Sharankhola, Ram-

pal, Mongla, Kachua, Morelganj upazilas and the

district town were flooded. Due to rise of water

levels, erosion by Panguchi, Balleswar, Bhola and

Madhumati rivers took serious turns. Accord-

ing to the Department of Agricultural Extension

sources, standing crops on 1040 hectares, vege-

tables on 500 hectares and 5 hectares banana or-

chards were damaged due to rain-induced flash

floods.

Fig: 3.9: Erosion by Someshwary River, which took a serious turn and devours homesteads and croplands in Dakumara village of Netrakona

district. (Photo: STAR)

On 21 July, 2011, erosion by Jamuna in Ja-

malpur and Teesta in Rangpur rendered hun-

dreds of families homeless. Several hundred

families of Belgachha, Chinaduli and Noarpara

unions in Islampur upazila of Jamalpur have

shifted their houses due to severe erosion by Ja-

muna. During the period, people of Dakkhin Gila-

bari of Belgachha union of Islampur upazila bore

the brunt as erosion took a severe turn in the

area (Fig:3.10). At least 5,000 families of Dakkhin

Gilabari, Shaha Para of Belgachha union, Kadam-

toli Bazar of Chinaduli union and Ulia Bazar of

Noarpara union became victims to the Jamuna

erosion. Erosion by Padma and Dhaleswari rivers

also took a serious turn along 25 villages of eight

unions in Harirampur, Daulatpur, Shivalaya and

Ghior upazilas, rendering more than 700 families

homeless. Shelters built under the government

Ashrayan Project in Ghior Sadar lost more than

40 of its 80 structures into the river Dhaleswari

while the rest were endangered.

Erosion by Teesta River Erosion by the river Teesta took a serious turn

at Dhamur point, devouring around 300 feet of

Gangachhara embankment (Fig:3.11). Part of

the embankment went into the river during last

Fig: 3.10: Swelling Jamuna River eroding homesteads and farmlands at Dakkhin Gilabari in Belgachha union of Islampur upazila under

Jamalpur district.( Photo: STAR)


| 27 |

year's flood also, but locals saved it from further

collapse by putting sand bags in the breached

portion. According to the Water Development

Board (WDB), the sudden rise in water level in

the Teesta river this year caused heavy damage

to the embankment. Heavy flooding in south-

eastern Bangladesh forced more than 20,000

people out from their homes in Cox’s Bazar and

Teknaf districts as their homes were completely

destroyed by the floodwaters. Rice and shrimp

farmers were badly affected by the flooding, with

damage to the latter sector alone estimated at

over US$3 million.

On 30th July, 2011, heavy rains and on-rush

of water from hills across the border triggered

flash floods. Several thousand people at Teesta

and Dharla river basins and low- lying villages

went under water. The flood affected areas were

Dakkhin Goddimari, Char Dowani, Char Sindurna,

Char Dawabari, Paruliya under Hatibandha upazi-

la, Char Votmari, Char Kakina, Rudreshewar and

Jamirbari villages of Kaliganj upazila, Kadomtola,

Balapara, Char Gobordhan villages of Aditmari

upazila, Char Kurul, Mogholhat, Char Kulaghat,

Char Bowalmari, Rajpur, Char Kalmati, Khuniya

Gachh, Char Gokunda, Char Milon Bazaar villages

of Sadar upazila.

Fig: 3.11: With rise in water level in the Teesta River, around 300 feet stretch of Gangachhara embankment at Dhamur point in Rangpur

was eroded. (Photo: STAR)

Flash floods hit more than 50,000 people in

five upazilas of the Lalmonirhat district follow-

ing three consecutive days of heavy rain and

overflowing of two rivers, during 5 to 8 August,

2011 (Fig:3.12). The low-lying areas by the Teesta

and Dharla rivers bore the brunt. The most af-

fected areas were Angorpota and Dahagram of

Patgram upazila, Saniyazan, Goddimari, Sindurna

and Dawabari of Haitbandha upazila, Votmari

and Kakina of Kaliganj upazila, Mohishkhocha

and Durgapur of Aditmari upazila and Kulaghat,

Khuniyagachh, Rajpur, Mogholhat of Lalmonirhat

Sadar. Many roads went under water and a large

number of families lost their homes after water

in the Matamuhuri and Sangu Rivers rose signifi-

cantly above the danger level.

Parts of the capital city of Dhaka remained

flooded as the city struggled to cope with the af-

termath.West Nandipara area in the city of Dhaka

was worst affected(Fig:3.13). Due to the continu-

ous rains, viral fevers were spread and influenza

took a serious turn, affecting mostly the children.

At least 1.5 lakh people were affected due to flash

floods in Bandarban due to incessant rains and

water rushing down from hills. A vast area of all

the six unions--Aziznagar, Lama, Gazalia, Rupship-

ara, Fasiakhali, Sarai--in Lama upazila submerged.

Fig: 3.12: A villager at Durgapur of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat shifting domestic animals to a safer place during Floods ( Photo: STAR)

| 28 |

IntroductionFlood

These sudden floods affected at least 4,000 fami-

lies in the upazila, and many people were report-

edly injured in the rush of flood waters. A num-

ber of government offices including Lama upazila

office, police station, agriculture office and food

stores went under waist-deep water.

On 10 August 2011, heavy monsoon rains

and water from rain-fed Kobadak and Betrabati

rivers inundated around 350 villages under 22

unions of Tala, Koiroa and Satkhira Sadar upazi-

las, marooning over three lakh people (Fig:3.14).

The worst-affected unions were Kumira, Dhandia,

Sarulia, Jalalpur, Islamkati, Magura, Tentulia and

Khalishkhali in Tala upazila; Deara, Jugikhali and

Jalalabad unions in Kalaroa upazila; and Bali, Lab-

sa and Jhowdanga in Sadar upazila.

About 300 thatched houses were complete-

ly damaged and newly transplanted aman and

vegetables on several thousand acres of land

went under water. Fish worth around Tk 5 crore

were washed away as floodwaters overflowed at

least 500 ponds in the affected areas. Durgapur

town protection dam was damaged by the on-

rush of waters from hills across the border. Road

communication between Netrakona and Dur-

gapur upazila headquarters were snapped as

about one kilometre stretch of the road was

Fig: 3.13: A woman forced to cook on top of her bed at West Nandipara in the city of Dhaka as water from the incessant showers flooded her

home. Photo: Palash Khan

completely damaged by floodwater in Suknakuri

area in Durgapur upazila. A large number of

people took shelter in makeshift camps set up

at schools, madrasas and high lands and on the

corridors of government offices. Apart from se-

vere crises of food, shelter and safe drinking wa-

ter, waterborne diseases broke out in the wa-

terlogged areas of the affected areas. Over 253

patients were admitted in to the Satkhira Sadar

hospital and upazila health complexes. At least

3.5 lakh people of 1.2 lakh families were ren-

dered homeless as the floods destroyed their

thatched houses. Besides aman plants, flood also

damaged roads, bridges, culverts, embankments,

and educational institutions. The affected people

faced acute scarcity of food, medicines and pure

drinking water. In hard-hit Satkhira in the south,

800,000 people were affected.

On 20 September 2011, in Lalmonirhat, over

60 thousand people in five upazilas of the dis-

trict were marooned by flash floods caused by

heavy downpour and swelling of Teesta and

Dharla Rivers. Flood waters inundated the low-

lying areas besides the two rivers. People had to

wade through knee deep water in many places

(Fig:3.15). The affected areas included Angorpo-

ta-Dahagram of Patgram upazila, Saniyazan, God-

Fig: 3.14: Koira upazila parishad building and its surroundings in Khulna during floods on 11th August, 2011. Photo: STAR


| 29 |

dimari, Sindurna and Dawabari of Hatibandha

upazila, Votmari and Kakina of Kaliganj upazila,

Mohishkhocha and Durgapur of Aditmari upazila

and Kulaghat, Khuniyagachh, Rajpur, Mogholhat

unions in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.

On 21 September 2011, a Teesta river em-

bankment in Gannarpar area under Gangachara

upazila of Rangpur district collapsed, flooding

several villages and aman paddy fields (Fig:3.16).

The embankment collapsed due to heavy pres-

sure of water as the Teesta river swelled. Accord-

ing to the sources in the Water Development

Board (WDB), the water level in the Teesta marked

a sudden rise on 21 September, 2011. Erosion by

the river took a serious turn while floodwaters

Fig: 3.15: Women wade through knee-deep water at Etapota village in Mogholhat union under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila as overflowing Teesta

and Dharla Rivers worsened flood situation in the district. Photo: STAR

Fig: 3.16: The embankment at Gannarpar in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur collapsed due to heavy pressure of swelling Teesta river water on

21 September 2011, flooding several villages of the upazila. Photo: STAR

washed away at least 200 thatched houses at dif-

ferent villages of the Gangachara upazila of Rang-

pur district. Floodwater also damaged vegetable

crops on several hundred hectares and most

aman seed-beds in the affected areas. At least 30

more dwelling houses and 200 hectares of culti-

vable land at Keshobpur and Igrampur villages

were devourd by the Ubdakhali River.

75% of Bangladesh is less than 10 metres

above sea level and 80% is flood plain, which

makes Bangladesh a nation very much at flood

risk and experiencing wide spread flood damag-

es. Every year, about 26,000 sq.km (around 18%)

of the country is flooded, killing over 5,000 peo-

ple and destroying more than 7 million homes.

To date, the floods took a debilitating toll on mil-

lions of people in Bangladesh. Agricultural fields

remained covered with standing water, which

has destroyed crops, seed stocks, livelihoods,

and employment opportunities. Fish, the main

source of protein, became scarce and expensive,

and food prices in general have increased 10 to

15 percent. Faced with food shortages, fami-

lies have drastically reduced the number and

quality of daily meals. Due to floods, countless

houses were damaged or destroyed, forcing the

displaced persons into makeshift shelters (e.g.,

schools, colleges, government buildings etc.) or

in impromptu camps along roadsides. Drinking

water was contaminated by standing flood wa-

ters, latrines were totally destroyed, sanitation

was totally affected, resulting in the out break of

waterborne diseases.

INDIA India is one of the most Flood affected countries

in the world, after Bangladesh. In India, out of the

total geographical area of 329 mha, more than 40

mha is flood prone. Floods are a recurrent phe-

| 30 |

IntroductionFlood

nomenon in most parts of India, which cause huge

loss of lives and damage to economy, livelihood

system, property, infrastructure and public utilities

in the Country. On an average every year, around

75 lakh hectares of land is affected, 1600 lives

are lost and the damage caused to crops, houses

and public utilities is around INR1805 crores due

to floods. Over a period of time, the flood related

damages are showing an increasing trend in India.

The annual precipitation over India (includ-

ing snowfall) is estimated at 4,00,000 crore cubic

meters (4,000 Billion Cubic Meters [BCM]) with

the seasonal rainfall in the monsoons being of

the order of 3,00,000 crore cubic meters (3,000

BCM). The country receives maximum rainfall

during the south-west (SW) monsoon for a pe-

riod of about 80 to 100 days, starting from the

first week of June to the end of September. Nor-

mal area-weighed rainfall over the Indian land

mass is 89 cms during this period. Around 80 per

cent of the annual total rainfall over India occurs

in the SW monsoon season. The balance (20 per

cent) rainfall is mainly due to convective activi-

ties in the pre-monsoon period (March-June) in

the form of local storms/thunderstorms, cyclones

and post-monsoon cyclones (October-mid De-

cember).Winter rains/snowfall over the northern

part of India caused by western disturbances and

the northeast (NE) monsoon in the state of Tamil

Nadu and adjoining region also contribute to the

remaining total rainfall. The normal annual rain-

fall varies from less than 600 mms in the north-

western part to over 2,500 mms in the north-

eastern part. It varies from about 1,200 mms in

the north to 2,900 mms in the south.

Causes of Floods in India

Inadequate capacity of the rivers to contain

within their banks and the high flows brought

down from the upper catchment areas following

heavy rainfall, leads to flooding. The tendency to

occupy the flood plains has been a serious con-

cern over the years. Because of the varying rain-

fall distribution, many a time, areas which are not

traditionally prone to floods are also experienc-

ing severe inundations. Areas with poor drainage

facilities get flooded by accumulation of water

from heavy rainfall. Excess irrigation water ap-

plied to command areas and increase in ground

water levels due to seepage from canals and ir-

rigated fields also are factors that accentuate

the problem of water-logging and Flooding. The

problem is exacerbated by factors such as silting

of the riverbeds, reduction in the carrying capac-

ity of river channels, erosion of beds and banks

leading to changes in river courses, obstructions

to flow due to landslides, synchronisation of

floods in the main and tributary rivers and retar-

dation due to tidal effects etc.

The year 2011 experienced severe Floods in

the states of Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Karna-

taka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

Assam

In Assam, floods affected around 30 thousand

people and submerged vast tracts of agricultural

land in Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Jorhat and Morigaon

districts. Incessant rains in Assam and neighbour-

ing Arunachal Pradesh resulted in flooding of

the dozens of villages in Assam. The overall flood

situation in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in

Assam, became grim following the rains during

July, 2011 . A few areas of Sonitpur district were

also badly affected. Incessant rains in the affected

districts and the catchments of the neighbour-

ing areas flooded new areas and disrupted roads.

Brahmaputra and its tributaries, Jia Bharali and

Suwansiri flowed above the Danger level at vari-


| 31 |

ous places. The surface communicatios at a num-

ber of places in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts

were also disrupted. The breaches of embank-

ment at Na-river in Dhemaji resulted in flooding

of new areas. The Baaghinijaan river washed away

a part of National Highway at Padumani in Lakh-

impur district. Low lying areas of the Kaziranga

National Park and Pobitara Park in Morigaon dis-

trict reeled under the impact of floods. A total of

2,11,410 people in 197 villages were severely af-

fected by floods in the Subansiri, Drupang, Ranga-

nadi rivers and other tributaries of the Brahmapu-

tra river following heavy downpour in the hills of

neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Assam govern-

ment alerted all its departments and agencies

in time. Relief materials, medical and NDRF teams

rushed to all the affected districts. Over 1.5 lakh

people took shelter in various relief camps organ-

ised by the government. The Chief Minister of As-

sam, Mr. Tarun Gogoi made an aerial inspection

of the flood-hit areas of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and

Jorhat districts and the Kaziranga National Park

(Fig:3.17). The state Health department took spe-

cial care to prevent the spread water borne and

water related diseases and Japanese Encephali-

ties in all the affected areas .

Fig: 3.17: Flood Havoc in Assam: Chief Minister Shree Tarun Gogoi making an aerial survey of flood-hit Lakhimpur district.(Source: The Hindu)

West Bengal

Incessant rains during the 3rd week of June, 2011

led to a flood-like situation in many parts of West

Bengal. Parts of Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and

Hooghly districts and the Sunderbans were affect-

ed as they experienced heavy rainfall. More than

500 villages in North and South 24 Parganas dis-

tricts were affected with breaches occurring in the

embankments of several rivers. Seventeen persons

lost their lives and around nine lakh people were

affected due to these floods . However, the situa-

tion was monitored effectively by the government

of West Bengal and the concerned district admin-

istrations took timely and appropriate measures.

Kerala

Heavy rains lashed many parts of Kerala and

claimed 23 lives during the onset of south-west

monsoon on 27th May, 2011, besides causing

large-scale loss to agriculture crops and prop-

erty. Most casualties, which were mainly due

to drowning in swelling rivers and flash floods,

were reported from Alappuzha and Kottayam

districts of the state. Due to the heavy rain fall

in Kuttanad, the state's rice bowl in Alappuzha

district in central Kerala, many low laying plac-

es were inundated and water has entered in to

the houses in low lying areas. Vehicular traffic

in Alappuzha and Changanassery road was dis-

| 32 |

IntroductionFlood

rupted as water blocked and stagnated in many

places. 155 houses were damaged in rain relat-

ed incidents in Kottayam district . In Alappuzha

district, about 450 houses were submerged in

a bund breach in the Kombankuzhi paddy pol-

der near the Tirumala ward. Crop loss was esti-

mated to be INR.5.53 crore. To help the affected

people, district authorities opened 13 and 16

relief camps in Alappuzha and Kottayam dis-

tricts respectively. More than 4600 people from

434 families were accommodated in these relief

camps.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, rain fury in the State on 12th May,

2011claimed 54 lives besides leaving a trail of

destruction on standing crops on 4,594 hectares

of land and damaging 1,192 houses. As many as

332 cattle had also died. The crop losses included

agricultural crops on 4,331 hectares and horticul-

tural crops on 263 hectares.

Bihar

The flood situation on 1st October, 2011 cre-

ated havoc in Bihar , with the death toll rising

to 98. Of the 98 deaths, 14 were from Bhagalpur,

12 from Bhojpur, 10 from Samastipur, nine from

Saharsa, 11 from Begusarai and eight each from

West Champaran and Lakhisarai districts. Six

persons died each in Khagaria and Madhubani

districts, four in Vaishali, three in Madhepura,

two each in Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur dis-

tricts, one each in Patna, Purnea and Supaul. The

situation worsened in Madhubani, Sitamarhi

and Darbhanga districts following rains in the

catchment areas of the Adhwara group of rivers

in Bihar and Nepal. More than 150 villages were

affected in Kamtaul, Gaurabauram, Jale, Baha-

durpur, Hanuman Nagar, Keoti, Darbhanga Sadar

and Singhwara of Darbhanga district. The Bihar

State Disaster Management Department has

made elaborate arrangements for rescue and re-

lief operations.

Odisha

Nearly 30 lakh people in 19 of Odisha's 30

districts were badly affected during the 2011

floods. The coastal districts of Cuttack, Ken-

drapara and Jagatsinghpur were inundated

by floods on 11th September, 2011, because

a huge volume with 14.05 lakh cusecs of

floodwater flowed through the Mahanadi at

Baramul, less than 100 km from Cuttack (Fig:

3.18). Many low lying areas in northern parts

of the state were also marooned due to flood

waters. Moreover a low pressure area was

formed over North West Bay of Bengal and ad-

joining coastal areas of West Bengal and north

Odisha. More than 50,000 people in 25 villages

in Remuna and sadar blocks of Balasore dis-

trict were surrounded by floodwaters of Bud-

habalanga and its tributary Sono. According to

the State government sources, 2,550 villages

and 13 towns were affected by the floods. At

least 8 persons have lost their lives. Besides,

3 persons were swept away in Nayagarh dis-

trict. The floods damaged 10,565 houses in

Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Jajpur, Nuapada

and Sambalpur districts. About 60,000 people

were evacuated from low-lying areas to safer

places and provided with food, shelter, medi-

cines, water supply and sanitation. More than

one lakh people were evacuated from low ly-

ing areas to safe places and given food as 186

relief camps/free kitchens were opened in ma-

rooned villages. The State government took

assistance from the Navy to carry out rescue

operations.


| 33 |

Fig: 3.18: A photo depicting a man treading through the flood waters at Kendrapara during September, 2011 floods in Odisha

(Source: The Hindu)

Odisha government air-dropped food pack-

ets in the flood affected areas. The Odisha Chief

Minister Naveen Patnaik along with the state

Revenue and Disaster Management minister S N

Patro made an aerial survey of flood hit areas and

reviewed the relief arrangements made by the

administration.The Chief Minister directed the

collectors of the flood-hit districts to start resto-

ration and reconstruction work immediately. He

also asked the Collectors to start labour-intensive

works in the flood affected villages under the

Centrally sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National

Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme . The state

government also issued directions to the dis-

trict collectors to close schools in their respective

areas in view of the flood situation. About 500

weak points were identified on river banks and

embankments which were prone to breaches. At

least 16 persons, five from Jajpur district, three

each from Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj districts,

two each from Dhenkanal and Sambalpur district

and one person in Bhadrak district, died in the

floods. The flood affected districts are shown in

the map (Fig:3.19):

Nepal During the year 2011, Nepal witnessed inces-

sant rains, which caused floods and landslides.

The Government of Nepal, during the year estab-

lished a National Emergency Operation Center

(NEOC) with financial assistance from the Austra-

lian government and technical assistance from

the UNDP. The NEOC collects, processes and dis-

seminates information related to all types of di-

sasters in the country. It was also entrusted with

the responsibility to coordinate with national

and international organizations to carry out

works related to disaster risk reduction and relief

operations in the event of natural calamities. Ac-

cording to data compiled by NEOC, at least 56

people were killed, 17 went missing and 80 oth-

ers injured and a total of 3700 households were

affected following landslides, floods and thun-

derbolts triggered by incessant rainfall in the

month of June, 2011. 26 persons died after being

struck by thunderbolts. 121 houses were com-

pletely destroyed due to landslides and floods

between June 1 and July 6. The NEOC, based on

the reports from the concerned district adminis-

tration offices across the country, has estimated

loss of properties worth Rs 24.6 million.

In another incident, at least 10 persons died

and one went missing in rain related incidents

in various parts of the country on 20 July, 2011. Fig: 3.19: A Map showing the districts which are affected by Flood of

2011.(Source: Govt. of Odisha)

| 34 |

IntroductionFlood

Four members of a family died when a landslide

triggered by incessant rain swept away a house

at Narjamandap VDC-5 in Nuwakot district on

20 July, 2011. A rescue team of the Nepal Army

extricated the victims’ bodies. The landslide had

left 24 houses in the settlement at high risk. Fol-

lowing continuous rainfall during August 12 to

16, the swollen Mahakali river had swept away

over a dozen houses and flooded various areas

in VDCs in Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts

(Fig:3.20). Many settlements in Bhimdatta mu-

Fig: 3.20: Mahakali river flooded various areas in Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts in Nepal (Source: - Kantipur News, Kanchanpur)

nicipalities in Kanchanpur district were evacu-

ated to safer areas as the Mahakali river flooded

the areas. Several settlements in Kailali, Kan-

chanpur and Dadeldhura districts were inundat-

ed. Swollen rivers burst banks and entered the

settlements, displacing dozens of households. In

Kanchanpur, floods in the Mahakali, Doda and

Banhara rivers breached the embankments and

entered settlements near the banks. Dozens of

families were displaced. Major highways in the

region were blocked by landslides in several

places. The Bhimdutta highway, KI Singh highway,

Mahakali highway and Jayaprithvi highway were

also blocked, leaving hundreds of passengers

stranded.

Pakistan Pakistan witnessed severe floods during this

year also, leaving some 200,000 people homeless

and triggering another international aid effort.

Though the scale of the disaster was less than

that of the last year, the misery for those effected

continued. Pakistan called on the world to speed

up relief efforts after torrential rains exacerbat-

ed major floods, killing 270 people and making

another 200,000 homeless in the south of the

country.

Three persons, including two women, were

killed and dozens of others were injured in rain

related incidents in different parts of Balochistan

on 10 July, 2011. Rains disrupted the power sup-

ply and communication links in several districts

of the province. According to the government

sources, several districts of Balochistan, includ-

ing Zhob, Barkhan, Loralai, Musakhel and others

received heavy monsoon showers. In Barkhan,

streams swelled due to heavy rainfall, swept

away a number of vehicles. Floodwaters also

washed away a road connecting Zhob to Mu-

sakhel, leaving hundreds of commuters strand-

ed. Heavy rains also adversely affected services

provided by mobile companies while landline

phones were also rendered out of order, adding

to the miseries of people who were deprived of

the facility to contact their friends and relations.

Eight people, including a woman and four

children, died in Rawalpindi and Islamabad af-

ter heavy rains lashed the twin cities on 25 July,

2011, as water rose to dangerous level in Leh Nul-

lah inundating low-lying localities. In Rawalpindi,

three persons, including a policeman trying to

save a young man from drowning in Leh Nullah,

were swept away. In Islamabad’s suburb, roof of a

mud house collapsed, killing five wedding guests,

including four children. Many low-lying locali-


| 35 |

ties in the city were inundated, with the people

struggling to save their valuables as flood waters

entered their homes.

(Fig: 3.21: Pakistani flood affected villagers ride on a vehicle as they arrive at a safe place in flood-hit Badin district in Sindh province on

September 13, 2011 (Source: - Dawn News)

Four people died and 21 suffered severe inju-

ries as rains battered most parts of lower Sindh

on 11 August, 2011. Although Tharparkar and

adjoining areas had received the heaviest rain-

fall, Badin district has suffered the most. A lage

number of villages were cut off from the out side

world and hundreds of people were marooned.

The continuous heavy downpour adversely af-

fected Kharif crops of cotton and paddy and

washed away vegetables and fodder on thou-

sands of acres in lower regions of the province.

According to the National Disaster Management

Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan, over 200,000

people were affected in flood-hit areas in inte-

rior Sindh. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr.

Yousuf Raza Gilani made a visit to the flood af-

fected areas and reviewed the situation. During

his visit, Mr. Gilani directed the authorities of the

NDMA to provide tents, food, medicines and all

other facilities to the displaced victims at the re-

lief camps set up at different locations. Mr. Gilani

also directed the authorities to provide Watan

cards for the displaced people so as to help them

meet their financial needs. The Prime Minister

who also distributed relief goods to the flood-af-

fected people said the government ensured swift

relief for all the flood victims. He also said that

the flood-affected areas were declared disaster

hit areas and the Zarai Taraqiati Bank was asked

to provide loans to the farming community.The

Prime Minister said the damage and needs as-

sessment would be conducted in the affected ar-

eas and the government would compensate the

people on the damages to their property, live-

stock and farms. The September monsoon rains

in Sindh province killed 85 people24. Tharpakar,

Badin and Wazirabad were among the worst-hit

areas. Thousands of domestic cattle were killed

in different districts of Sindh due to continuous

heavy rainfall and floods in lower Sindh districts.

Many flood affected people were shifted to safer

places in flood-hit Badin district in the province

(Fig:3.21). The provincial government also pro-

vided monetary compensation to the flood-hit

people. In addition, the provincial government of

Sindh has earmarked Rs5 billion for rescue and

relief efforts in the flood affected areas.

Sri LankaIn Sri Lanka, according to the Disaster Manage-

ment Centre (DMC), 1437 houses were complete-

ly destroyed while 3562 were partly damaged

in the 2011 January floods. Batticaloa was the

worst affected district according to the data put

out by the centre with 331,418 people belonging

to 87,832 families affected while 3770 families

were displaced. DMC statistics stated that while

635 houses were destroyed, 2,498 houses were

partially damaged by floods in 14 Divisional Sec-

retary Divisions in the Batticaloa District alone.

Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Monera-

gala, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Kegalle, Kandy,

Ampara, Matale and Ratnapura were the worst

| 36 |

IntroductionFlood

affected. The number of people displaced owing

to torrential rains and the attendant disasters in

the Eastern and North Central Provinces and sev-

eral other districts has risen to 900,000 persons25.

In all, 13 districts were affected by torrential rains.

These rains claimed 13 lives and 44 received se-

vere injuries. Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Badul-

la, Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts

were the most affected. All the displaced persons

were accommodated at 350 government-run

welfare centres. The government allocated Rs. 7.1

million for the provision of relief to the affected

persons. The majority of the displaced families

were residents of the Batticaloa District. All the

major reservoirs were brimful and their sluice

gates were open.The Army was deployed to pre-

vent the breach of the tank bund of ‘Eruwewa’

in the Anuradhapura District. Swift intervention

by the Army helped to prevent the breach and

averted a major disaster.

References:1. EMDAT www.emdat.be

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood#Principal_

types_and_causes.

3. New Age.

4. The Daily Star.

5. The Frontier Post, Jalalabad (AIP)

6. PAN (GHAZNI CITY))

7. Bakhtar News Agency (Charikar)

8. The Independent.

9. Kuensel Newspaper.

10. http://www.nidm.gov.in/Chap6.htm.

11. Memorandum: Floods 2011 Relief Commissioner,

Revenue and Disaster Management Department,

Govt. of Odisha, 2011

12. Additional Memorandum: Floods 2011 Relief

Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Manage-

ment Department, Govt. of Odisha, 2011.

13. Hydro geological Atlas of Orissa, Central Ground

Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, South-

Eastern Region, Government of India, 1985 .

14. The Times of India.

15. NDTV News.

16. DD News.

17. The Tribune.

18. The Hindu.

19. The Hindustan Times.

20. www.myrepublica.com.

21. The Himalayan Times.

22. Kantipur Times.

23. The Frontier Post.

24. Dawn News

25. Daily News.


| 37 |

An OverviewDrought is a natural, recurring climatic feature

which stems from lack of rainfall over an extend-

ed period of time (i.e. a season or several years

resulting in severe shortage of water resources). It

occurs almost in all climatic regions of the world.

Drought is a normal phenomenon in arid zone

areas, a common phenomenon in semi-arid zone

areas and a rare to very rare phenomenon in dry

humid and humid areas. It is a natural disaster,

which can be anticipated and also expected on

the basis of rainfall patterns, temperature etc.

Drought connotes a situation of water short-

age for human, cattle and agriculture consump-

tion resulting in economic losses, primarily in

agriculture sector. Drought is classified as Meteo-

rological, Hydrological, Agricultural and Environ-

mental drought. Unlike the Hydrological and Ag-

ricultural droughts, the Meteorological Drought,

which connotes specific rainfall reduction below

19% of normal rainfall, may not necessarily have

any serious impact if the departure from nor-

mal is not significant and the rainfall is sufficient

enough to sustain soil moisture. The mechanism

for anticipating and managing droughts nec-

essarily differs from similar arrangements con-

cerning other natural disasters (like cyclones,

earthquakes, floods, cloudbursts, tsunami etc) or

man-made disasters, for the following reasons:

• Slow onset and prolonged course of

droughts as against the other disasters, which

have rapid onset, and a limited duration;

• Early warning indicators in case of droughts

are necessarily ambiguous because they may

or may not culminate in a full blown drought

Drought

disaster;

• Duration may range from months to years and

the core area or epicentre changes over time,

reinforcing the need for continuous monitor-

ing of climate and water supply indicators;

• No single indicator or index can identify pre-

cisely the onset and severity of the event and

its potential impacts; multiple indicators are

more effective and

• Spatial extent is usually much greater than

that for other natural hazards, making assess-

ment and response actions difficult, since

impacts are spread over larger geographical

areas Unlike other natural disasters the onset

of drought is slow and many times is not vis-

ible but it has a very serious impact on the

economy due to its intensity and longer du-

ration over a period of time.

Drought in the South Asia RegionDrought affects more people than any other

disaster in the South Asia region. South Asia

comprises some of the major drought affect-

ed regions of the world. Approximately 40% of

the world’s poor live in the South Asia and the

drought disasters are of recurring type in this re-

gion. Approximately 23% of the world’s popula-

tion live in the SAARC region, comprising of the

countries i.e., Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,

India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka .

SAARC region also sustains world’s poorest peo-

ple since it contributes less than 1.5% of world’s

GDP. Majority of the SAARC Region is prone to

periodical and continuous droughts. A severe

drought will exacerbate existing problems of

Chapter 4

| 38 |

IntroductionDrought

poverty, and have a devastating effect on the

lives of the most vulnerable people in the re-

gion. Hence, there is an acute need of long term

assessment of the drought prone areas in these

countries for formulation and implementation

of drought mitigation programmes. One of the

most effective ways of tackling the problems

of drought in the SAARC region is to ensure ad-

equate water for agriculture sector through vari-

ous water harvesting and conservation meth-

ods and techniques. The water resources of any

country are fixed. The demands for fresh water

resources in the region are increasing. Since we

cannot increase the availability of water resourc-

es in any region, the only option is to conserve

the available water and use it effectively and effi-

ciently through an efficient water supply, storage

and distribution mechanisms and reducing loss-

es by following various conservation techniques.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood

in the SAARC region and it sustains vast major-

ity of population by providing direct and indirect

employment. Majority of areas in the SAARC re-

gion are under rain fed agriculture which contin-

ues to face more challenges in terms of droughts.

Failed monsoon or deficient rain cycles often

lead to drought in the SAARC region, as a result

of which, droughts are perennial and more fre-

quent in the SAARC region. In the recent years

Afghanistan faced continuous drought during

1997-2002 and 2007-08 which reduced agricul-

tural production by about thirty percent in that

country. India faced severe droughts in 2002 and

2009, during which the Agriculture sector in the

country was badly affected. Pakistan encountered

severe droughts during 1998-2001 in the entire

provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan. Similarly Ban-

gladesh also faced drought during 1994-95 and

2009, Nepal in 2006 and 2009 and Sri Lanka on

2001 and 2004. Maldives also faced hydrological

droughts during dry seasons in recent times. Cli-

mate projections indicate increased frequency of

severe droughts in the near future in the SAARC

region. According to the IPCC, severe heat waves

are expected to increase everywhere, as a result of

which, South Asian countries, especially the coun-

tries like Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

are going to be worst affected by drought, wheth-

er due to natural climate variability or climate

change. The impact of drought on these countries

is more than any other natural disasters both in

terms of area affected, number of people affected,

development suffered and loss to the economy.

Recurrent droughts in the region are severely

affecting the economies of the SAARC member

countries. Large parts of southern Afghanistan,

the province of Baluchistan in the remote south-

western region of Pakistan and several states of

India experienced drought, caused by poor rain-

fall. The lack of sufficient rains means that local

water sources dry up and there is very little veg-

etation for grazing. This leads to substantial loss

of livestock and distress selling of livestock by

the poor farmers in these regions. This adds to

the existing problem of poverty in these areas

and causes considerable strain on the natural

resources. Because of successive droughts, the

general health of the population in the affected

areas has also declined, with rising levels of mal-

nutrition due to the poor diet on which many

people are subsisting. The scenario of drought

during the year 2011 in each of the SAARC mem-

ber countries is briefly described below:

Afghanistan Afghanistan is a land locked and mountainous

country. The presence of mountains causes lot

of variations in terms of climate and rain fall and


| 39 |

snow fall in Afghanistan. Over 80% of the an-

nual precipitation falls as snow in the mountain

ranges of central Afghanistan. The variation of

rainfall is both temporal and spatial. Afghanistan

is not having good water storage, distribution

mechanisms and lacking irrigation facilities.

In Afghanistan , out of 65 million ha. of area,

total agricultural land is 40 million ha. Arable

land is 7.9 million ha and the cultivation land is

estimated at 3.5 million ha only. Irrigated land

is 1.8 million ha, total arable land rain fed is 1.7

million ha and the range lands is approximately

30 million ha.

Water shortage and its after effects pose

a threat of severe food crisis and migration in

Afghanistan. Afghanistan frequently experiences

moderate drought conditions. Though the im-

pact of drought felt in all sectors in natural, social,

economic and political components, the effect of

drought on agricultural production and food secu-

rity in Afghanistan is very high. The extreme pov-

erty and underdevelopment in Afghanistan makes

the population more susceptible during droughts.

During the last decade, the country faced

acute food shortages induced by drought in sev-

eral parts of the country. Crop production was

decimated and agricultural livelihoods came to a

standstill and these cascaded a chain of adverse

events like acute food grain supply, mass migra-

tion, conflict among the people and draining

of the economy that was already crippled. The

hardest drought hit provinces in Afghanistan

were Nangarhar, Takhar and Laghman provinces.

During the year 2011, though Afghanistan was

not affected by severe drought, the food security

in the country became stressed1. Rainfed zones

of central highlands (Day Kundi, Bamyan, and

Ghor), northeast (Badakhshan), and western Af-

ghanistan (Hirat) were also affected by poor rain-

fed wheat harvest during the year 2011. The food

security conditions in Afghanistan are shown in

the figure below, which indicates that the impact

of drought on household food security is limited

as the primary source of food is from the market

rather than food harvest from the drought affect-

ed areas (Fig:4.1).

Fig 4.1: Afghanistan Food Security Map (Source: FEWS-Net)

| 40 |

Introduction

The Government of Afghanistan has pre-

pared a comprehensive strategy and policy to

face drought and desertification in the country.

The following are some of the short term and

long term initiatives taken by the Government of

Afghanistan to mitigate drought in Afghanistan:

Short Term Initiatives• Technology to promote drip & sprinkler irri-

gation systems.

• Implementation of reforestation program

across relevant areas.

• Multiplication of drought tolerant cereals va-

rieties specially wheat & maize.

• Implementation of national grain reserve

strategies.

• Improvement of watershed management

systems.

Long Term Initiatives:• Integration of macro & micro dam programs

• Sustainable rangeland grazing / systems

• Water management system to broad acreage

• Cultivation of fodder and foliage crops

Further, the following actions are also being implemented:

• Promotion of CBNRM for soil, vegetation &

water management.

• Protection of water sources & strategic man-

agement of water supply systems.

• Harvesting of rain & water formed from snow

melt to improve the situation.

• Promoting varieties of crops that are resis-

tant to water shortage.

• Encourage double/triple cropping in irrigat-

ed areas, in particular.

• Release of winter facultative wheat varieties.

• Establish and manage a strategic grain re-

serve.

• Ensure additional supplies of fodder and

feed.

Drought

BangladeshBangladesh is one of the most disaster-prone

countries in the world. Every year, the country ex-

periences disasters of one kind or another, such

as tropical cyclones, storm surges, floods, torna-

does and droughts, causing heavy loss of lives

and properties. Though Bangladesh is a water

rich country, drought also occurs in many parts

in the country. An estimated 2.7 million hect-

ares is severely drought prone in Bangladesh.

Normally, Bangladesh experiences a dry period

for seven months in a year (i.e., from November

to May), when rainfall is normally low. In Bangla-

desh, westernmost and easternmost parts are

prone to drought while the menace is less mani-

fested in the central part of the country. Drought

affects 30% of the area and 10% of the national

food production. Despite recurrent and devas-

tating droughts in Bangladesh, it has attracted

less attention than floods and cyclones, to which

Bangladesh is more prone. Nevertheless, drought

is also a serious problem in Bangladesh and the

Government and scientific community in Ban-

gladesh are paying due attention to drought

management. To combat the drought, it is essen-

tial for Bangladesh to utilize its water resources

(both surface and ground water resources) ef-

fectively. However, Bangladesh has increasingly

used her ground water resources to such an ex-

tent that the depletion of ground water resourc-

es as well as arsenic contamination is occurring

at an alarming rate. Under these circumstances,

there is no alternate but to use surface water to

meet the water deficit created by drought. Dur-

ing the year 2011, the water shortage led to

stream flow reduction and depletion of ground

water and evaporation exceeded normal levels

and these drought conditions resulted in crops

damage.


| 41 |

BhutanBhutan is a land locked country, located in the

eastern Himalayas. It is a relatively small moun-

tainous country with 38,394 sq.km in area. Alti-

tude ranges from 100 to 7500 metres above sea

level, 170 Km north-south and 340 km east-west

distance. Climate in Bhutan is wet summer mon-

soon and cool dry winters. Bhutan climate is af-

fected by latitude, altitude, prevailing wind direc-

tion, orientation of mountain ranges, local winds

and vegetation and is generally dominated by

monsoon winds, dry winter and wet summer

monsoon. In Bhutan, hydrological drought af-

fects hydropower and glacier retreat due to Cli-

mate Change is being observed.

IndiaAmong all the SAARC member countries, India is

the most affected on account of drought disas-

ter in terms of total number of people and area

affected. Annually about 50 million people in

the country are exposed to the drought disaster

in India. A total of 68% of sown area is subject

to drought in varying degrees. Drought occurs

in India mainly due to the failure of South-West

monsoon (from June to September). There is lot

of variation of precipitation (rainfall & snowfall),

both in terms of area, extent of occurrence, in-

tensity and time of occurrence. Rainfall is erratic

in India in every 4 out of 10 years. Annual Aver-

age Rainfall is 1160 mm in India. However, 85%

of it is concentrated in 100-120 days during the

SW Monsoon period. Most of the drought prone

areas lie in the arid (19.6%), semi-arid (37%) and

humid (21%) areas of the country that occupy

77.6% of its total land area of 329 Million Hect-

ares (MHa). Country’s Irrigation Potential is 140

Million Hectares (76 MHa through surface water

irrigation and 64 MHa through groundwater).

Because of over exploitation of ground water in

many parts of the country, the ground water ta-

ble is vastly depleting. Depletion of ground water

and limitation of surface water imply that not all

net sown area is amenable to irrigation.

The total annual replenishable ground water

resources of the country was estimated as 433

billion cubic meter (BCM). Keeping around 34

BCM for natural discharge, the net annual ground

water availability for the entire country is 399

BCM. The Annual ground water draft is 231 BCM

out of which 213 BCM is for irrigation use and 18

BCM is for domestic and industrial use.

2011 Drought in India

Drought in India usually results in huge eco-

nomic losses to the country, particularly to the

Agriculture sector. Agriculture is the back bone

of Indian economy and Indian agriculture is

heavily dependent on the climate of India. A fa-

vorable South West summer monsoon is critical

in securing water for irrigating crops in India. In

many parts of India, the failure of the monsoon

results in water shortages, there by resulting in

below-average crop yields. This is predominant

in major drought-prone regions such as southern

and eastern Maharashtra, northern Karnataka,

Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra

Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

In India, during the year 2011, setting in of

South West monsoon over Andaman Sea was

delayed by about 10 days. However, it set over

Kerala 3 days before its normal date of 1 June.

Monsoon set in over most parts of South Ara-

bian Sea, Kerala, some parts of Tamil Nadu, south

Bay of Bengal and South Andaman Sea on 29th

May 2011. Due to strengthening of cross-equa-

torial flow over Arabian Sea and the northward

movement of a vortex in the form of an upper

| 42 |

Introduction

air cyclonic circulation along the trough off the

west coast, monsoon further advanced rapidly

and covered entire Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa,

most parts of Karnataka and some parts of south

Andhra Pradesh by 5th June, 2011. However,

during 6 to 10 June, there was a short hiatus in

the further advance of monsoon along the west

coast. On the other hand, the eastern branch of

monsoon advanced over some more parts of Bay

of Bengal and north eastern states, with a delay

of nearly 5 days. Associated with the formation

of a depression over north Bay of Bengal on 13

June, 2011, the monsoon advanced into some

more parts of Arabian Sea, parts of Saurashtra

and most parts of the Bay of Bengal and parts

of coastal Andhra Pradesh and coastal Odisha.

Subsequently, there had been a rather steady ad-

vance during 15 – 26 June in association with the

formation of a Deep Depression (16 – 22 June)

over the North West Bay of Bengal and its grad-

ual West-North Westward movement. This synop-

tic situation caused the monsoon to cover most

parts of the country outside western parts of Ra-

jasthan and north Gujarat state. With the forma-

tion of a low pressure area over south Chhattis-

garh and adjoining Telangana and the off shore

trough extending from south Gujarat coast to

Kerala coast during 4-8 July, 2011, the trough at

mean sea level shifted southwards and became

more pronounced and made favourable condi-

tions for further advance of monsoon. Thus, the

southwest monsoon covered the entire country

on 9 July, 2011, 6 days earlier than its normal date

of 15 July. The map below shows the periodicity

of occurrence of severe Drought in various parts

of India (Fig: 4.2)

Fig. 4.2 : A map showing the periodicity of occurrence of severe Drought in various parts of India.(Source: India Meteorological Department, Government of India)

Drought


| 43 |

2011 Rainfall Distribution in India

For the country as a whole, the rainfall for

the season (June-September, 2011) was 101%

of its long period average (LPA) and 107% of its

LPA over Northwest India, 110% of its LPA over

Central India, 100% of its LPA over south Penin-

sula and 86% of its LPA over Northeast India. In

the country, as a whole, out of 603 meteorologi-

cal districts for which data is available, 453 dis-

tricts (76%) received excess/normal rainfall and

the remaining 150 districts (24%) received defi-

cient/scanty rainfall during the season. Monthly

rainfall over the country as a whole was 112%

of LPA in June, 85% of LPA in July, 110% of LPA in

August and 106% of LPA in September. Advance

of Southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea

was delayed by about 10 days. The monsoon set

in over Kerala on 29 May, 2011, three days before

its normal date of 1 June and covered the entire

country by 9 July, 6 days earlier than its normal

date of 15th July. The withdrawal of monsoon

from west Rajasthan was delayed and it com-

menced only on 23rd September, 2011. Season

rainfall over NE India was below its LPA by 14%.

Season rainfall over south Peninsula was normal.

However, the season rainfall over Central India

and NW India were 10% and 7% above their LPA

values respectively. The cumulative season rain-

fall from 1st June to 30th September 2011 was

excess in 7 meteorological subdivisions (21% of

the total area of the country), normal in 26 me-

teorological subdivisions (71% of the total area

of the country) and deficient in 3 meteorologi-

cal sub divisions i.e., Arunachal Pradesh, Assam &

Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and

Tripura (8% the total area of the country). The

sub-divisional cumulative season rainfall distri-

bution is shown in the table below (Table 4.1):

Region Actual Rainfall in 2011(mm)

Long Period Average (LPA)

(mm)

Actual for the year 2011 (% of LPA)

Coefficient of Variation (CV)

(% of LPA)

ALL-INDIA 899.9 887.5 101 10.7

NORTHWEST(NW) INDIA

654.8 615.0 107 18.9

CENTRAL INDIA 1073.6 975.5 110 15.0

SOUTH PENINSULA 715.2 715.5 100 15.3

NORTHEAST (NE) INDIA 1233.6 1438.3 86 12.6

Table 4.1 : The cumulative season rainfall distribution in different regions in India during 2011(Source: India Meteorological Department, Government of India (Web site: www.imd.gov.in)

The details of South West Monsoon Rain-

fall during June to September, 2011 in India

are shown in the map below (Fig. 4.3) where

as the details of Sub-Division wise Monthly

Rainfall Distribution over India during SW

Monsoon Season in 2011 are shown in Fig.

4.4 (a) to (d). The map showing the Drought

prone districts in India is shown in Fig. 4.5. Fig.

4.6 shows a map indicating the districts and

their ground water levels in India during the

year 2011 and Fig. 4.7 shows a map of River

Basins in India.

| 44 |

Introduction

Fig. 4.3 : A map showing the details of South West Monsoon Rainfall during June to September, 2011 in India (Source: India Meteorological Department, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India (Web site: www.imd.gov.in)

Drought

Fig. 4.4 (a), (b), (c), & (d) : Maps showing the details of Monthly Rainfall Distribution over India (Sub-Division wise) during SW Monsoon Season – 2011 (Source: India Meteorological Department, Government of India (Web site: www.imd.gov.in)


| 45 |

Fig. 4.5: A map showing the Drought prone Districts in India . Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India (Web site : http://wrmin.nic.in)

Fig. 4.6: A map indicating the districts and their ground water levels in Indiaduring 2011. Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India (Web site : http://wrmin.nic.in)

| 46 |

IntroductionDrought

Fig. 4.7: A map of River Basins in India. Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India (Web site : http://wrmin.nic.in)

The drought situation in some of the most

drought affected states in India is described

below:

Karnataka

During the year 2011, though the monsoon

started in time, the state of Karnataka except

Karavali and Malnad Regions experienced mod-

erate rains. During May-2011, the state as a whole

recorded only 71.7 mm rainfall as against its

normal rainfall of 87.2 mm with departure from

normal being (-) 15.5%. Out of 176 taluks in the

state 79 taluks recorded deficit / scanty rainfall.

The onset of monsoon over the southern part of

state was on 2 June and was on time. The prog-

ress of the monsoon trend was normal and cov-

ered most parts of the state by 10 June, 2011

except parts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir and Rai-

chur districts. Monsoon covered the entire state

by 15 June 2011. During June-2011 the state as

a whole received actual rainfall of 200 mm as

against its normal rainfall of 183 mm with (+) 10

% departure from normal. The interior parts of

Karnataka received below normal rainfall. Dur-

ing June 2011 rainfall was deficit in 58 taluks.

During July 2011, the state as a whole recorded

234 mm rainfall as against its normal rainfall of

266 mm with departure from normal being (-)

12 %. The districts of Chitradurga, Davanagere,

Chamarajanagara, Mysore, Belgaum, Haveri,

Dharwad, Hassan and Chikmangalur recorded

deficit rainfall. 72 taluks recorded deficit /scanty

rainfall during the month. The Coastal, Malnad

and South interior Karnataka regions recorded

below normal rainfall. During August 2011, the

state received 230 mm rain as against normal

rainfall of 196 mm with departure from normal

of 17%. The rainfall was deficit during the month


| 47 |

in the districts of Chitradurga and Bellary. Dur-

ing September 2011, the state witnessed scanty

rainfall in 17 districts of interior Karnataka with

departure from normal up to (-) 81%. The Coastal

and Malnad region received excess rainfall dur-

ing the month. South interior Karnataka recorded

only 44 mm rain during the month as against the

normal rainfall of 134 mm. The North interior Kar-

nataka region received 57 mm rainfall as against

normal rainfall of 152 mm. September 2011 rain-

fall was the second worst event in South Interior

Karnataka since 1971, and in North Interior Kar-

nataka, third worst event since 1971. As on the

end of September 2011, 27% of the geographi-

cal area in the state was under moderate/ se-

vere moisture stress covering interior regions of

the state. Failure of Monsoon during September

2011 caused late season drought of rare severity.

The dry spell in interior Karnataka during Sep-

tember 2011 continued in to October 2011 in

many districts. Though the cumulative rainfall de-

parture from normal for the State as a whole dur-

ing 1st June 2011 to 14th was (-) 4% from normal,

failure of monsoon during September and Octo-

ber 2011 resulted in late season drought. Fig. 4.8

indicates a map showing the drought affected

taluks in Karnataka during 2011. The percent-

age departure of cumulative rainfall in Karna-

taka from 1971 to 2011 is indicated in the chart

below (Fig. 4.9). Fig. 4.10 shows a map indicating

average cumulative rainfall patterns and Fig. 4.11

shows a map showing Agricultural drought as-

sessment in different drought prone districts of

Karnataka.

Fig. 4.8: A map showing the drought affected taluks in Karnataka during 2011. Source: Relief Department, Government of Karnataka

| 48 |

Introduction

Fig. 4.9: A chart showing the % departure of cumulative rainfall (from 1971 to 2011) Source: Relief Department, Government of Karnataka

Drought

Fig. 4.10: A map indicating average cumulative rainfall patterns in Karnataka. Source: Relief Department, Government of Karnataka


| 49 |

Fig. 4.11:A map showing Agricultural drought assessment in different drought prone districts of Karnataka. Source: Relief Department, Government of Karnataka

South West Monsoon drives the Kharif agri-

cultural activities in the state of Karnataka. Gen-

erally 30 September is the normal withdrawal

of South West Monsoon in the state. Taking into

consideration of the drought indicators, deficit

rain, dry spell/moisture stress prevailed in 70 ta-

luks of the state and were declared as drought

affected on 4 October 2011. 14 taluks were de-

clared as drought affected on 7th October 2011.

The situation was reviewed on 15 October 2011

and 6 more taluks were declared as drought af-

fected. With no respite in the situation, 9 more

taluks were declared as drought affected on 8th

November 2011 In all 99 taluks were declared

as drought affected. The summary of loss due

to Drought during 2011, as per the government

of Karnataka is presented in the table below

(Table: 4.2):

| 50 |

Introduction

Sl. No.

ItemEstimated loss (Rs in

crores)Relief claimed as per CRF Norms

(Rs in crores)

1 Agriculture Crop loss 4245.84 202.54

2 Horticulture Crop loss 299.00 13.94

3 Animal Husbandry

a) Opening of Goshalas 23.92

b) Purchase of Fodder mini kits 4.20

c) Purchase of Fodder Banks 7.60

d) Nutrient supply and Vety care 4.20

Total of Sl No 3 39.92

4 RDPR Dept

a) Revival of PWS 24.42

b) Revival of MWS 24.52

c) Retrieval / Hydro fracturing of bore-wells 18.23

d) Drilling of New bore-wells 18.24

e) Transportation of water 36.63

Total of Sl. No. 4 122.04

5 Additional funds under MGNREGS 4.80

6 Additional funds under Health Sector 10.00

7 Additional funds under Power Sector 330.00

Grand Total of Sl. No. 1 to 6 4544.84 723.24

Table 4.2: Summary of Losses due to Drought in Karnataka during 2011 Source: Relief Department, Government of Karnataka

Drought

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of

rice in India for which it is called the ‘rice bowl

of India’. It has an area of 2,75,069 sq km with a

population of 84,665,533. The basins of Goda-

vari, Krishna and Pennar and their tributaries

serve as a constant source of irrigation for the

state. Agriculture is the mainstay of economy in

the State and also provides direct and indirect

employment for more than 68% of the popu-

lation in the state. The Agriculture sector has

been growing at a rate of 3.5 % per annum since

1995-96. The state grows a whole range of food

crops, cashcrops and fruits- rice, wheat tobacco,

groundnut, bananas and mangoes.

During the South West Monson Period

(from June to September, 2011), the State had

received an average rainfall of rainfall of 532.7

mm as against the normal of 624.1 mm, with a

deviation of (-) 15%. Several mandals spread

over 20 districts had received deficit rainfall

of above (-) 20%. This deficit rainfall resulted

in damage to standing rains fed crops due to

moisture stress in more than 16 lakh hectares

as reported by the Department of Agricul-

ture. Based on the District Collectors report of

scanty/ deficit rainfall with dry-spells resulting

in reduction of sown area and moisture stress

to the crops sown and proposals to declare as

drought affected mandals, Government after

careful examination declared 456 mandals in 15

districts Namely, Anantapur (63), Nalgonda(52),

Karimnagar (50), Medak (43), Mahabubnagar

(41), Prakasam (38), Khammam (31), Kurnool


| 51 |

(29), YSR Kadapa (28), Rangareddy (26), Chittor

(13), Krishna (13), Guntur (11), Srikakulam(10),

and Visakhapatnam (08) as drought affected

mandals in view of deficient rainfall in 2011. Lat-

er, another 93 mandals in four districts (i.e., 36

mandals in Chittoor, 34 in Warangal, 18 in Adila-

bad and 5 in Karimnagar) were also identified as

drought-affected. The number of affected man-

dals in each districts are shown in the Table be-

low (Table 4.3):

Name of State/No of Districts District & Date of Declaration of Drought*

Andhra Pradesh(456 mandals in 15 districts)

30.10.2011 Anantapur (63), Nalgonda (52), Medak (43), Mahbubnagar (41), Prakasam (38), Khammam (31), Kurnool (29), Rangareddy (26), YSR Kadapa (26), Chittoor (13), Guntur (11), Karimnagar (50), Krishna (13), Srikakulam (10) and Visakhapatnam (8) districts.

93 mandals in 4 districts 18.11.2011Chittoor (36), in Warangal (34), Adilabad (18) and Karimnagar (5)

Table4.3:- Details of districts declared Drought affected in Andhra Pradesh, during 2011 Source: Revenue (Relief) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh

Odisha

A severe drought struck over many parts

of Odisha due to inadequate rainfall. During

the year 2011, most of the districts in the State

had received half the normal rainfall. Accord-

ing to Odisha Government revenue depart-

ment sources, Nuapada district in western

Orissa has received 56 per cent rainfall while

Boudh and Malkangiri recorded 63 and 61 per

cent,respectively, since the onset of the mon-

soon in the second week of June. The situation

in Angul, Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Deogarh,

Koraput, Jharsuguda and Sonepur was even

worse. The cumulative rainfall recorded in the

state during June 1 to July 29 stood at 407.4

mm, 23.8% short of the anticipated normal

rainfall of 534.5 mm. Insufficient rainfall had

affected agricultural activities in 17 of the

state’s 30 districts. Many farmers had to aban-

don transplanted fields as paddy saplings

wilted due to lack of rainfall. Balangir, Bargarh,

Boudh, Deogarh, Nuapada and Malkangiri dis-

tricts have experienced 40% less than normal

rainfall.

Maldives

The climate in Maldives is warm round the

year with little variation in temperatures. The

two distinct seasons in Maldives are dry season

(North East monsoon) and wet season (South-

West monsoon). Maldives consists of a group

of around 1200 islands in the Indian Ocean, out

of which around 200 islands in the southwest

of India and south-southwest of Sri Lanka are

inhabited. The average elevation of these islands

is only 1.2 m above MSL. The average size of

these islands are 40-60 hectors, the largest being

500 hectors. Since Maldives is not an agricultural

country, delay in onset of monsoon need not be

considered as drought. But when the duration of

North East monsoon (dry season) exceeds a cer-

tain limit, many islands may fall shortage of fresh

water for drinking and other domestic purposes

since ground water in these islands is not suit-

able for drinking and domestic usage.

Nepal Nepal is a land locked country, exposed to vari-

ous types of natural and man- made disasters.

| 52 |

Introduction

Though a vast network of rivers in Nepal create

good ground water conditions, drought con-

ditions also prevail in Nepal. Uneven, low and

irregular rainfall is the main factor for occur-

rence of droughts in Nepal. The western part of

Nepal, mid and far western terai is more vulner-

able to droughts. The entire mountainous region

is generally dry. Out of the 75 districts of Nepal,

approximately 40 districts are food deficient as

a result of drought, the most affected summer

crops being maize (in the hills) and rice (in the

Terai). Lack of irrigation facilities in the country

makes the problem more serious. Nepal is also

facing problems due to high poverty, low literacy

rate, poor public awareness, difficult and unde-

veloped physical infrastructure, policy support at

the top level, lack of cooperation and coordina-

tion among various government agencies, slow

decision making process etc, coupled with lack

of modern technology, early warning systems.

Now, the Government of Nepal is giving due im-

portance to drought risk management and has

undertaken agriculture and irrigation develop-

ment plans and programmes and ensure food

security.

PakistanDrought frequently occurs in Pakistan. The Pun-

jab Province, North-West Frontier Province and

Sindh have experienced some of the worst

droughts. According to the Economic Survey

of Pakistan, the drought was one of the most

significant factors responsible for the less than

anticipated growth performance. The most se-

vere drought at the national scale occurred dur-

ing 1999-2000, prolonging up to 2002 in many

areas of the country, as a result of which, the

agriculture growth suffered a major setback and

also causing acute shortage of food, fodder and

water. In Pakistan, migration of population due

to drought is regular phenomena. In Pakistan,

though massive canal network was available, the

effect of droughts has not been controlled. Dur-

ing the current decade, droughts have occurred

in the Thar Desert of Sindh Arid Zone. Massive

migratory trends have been witnessed continu-

ously from severe drought affected areas to irri-

gated and urban areas. In places like Tharparkar

where the economy is largely dependent on live-

stock, the impact of drought was very harsh. The

pastures had dried up and fodder availability was

restricted, in some extreme cases non-existent.

Many of the livestock population had to subsist

on toxic bushes which had made them vulner-

able to diseases like pest des petites, enterotox-

aemia, diarrhea and blood diarrhea.

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is a water rich country with an annual

rainfall of around 1860 mm. But Sri Lanka also

experiences several drought situations periodi-

cally. The main causes for droughts in Sri Lanka

are failure of monsoon rains, less than aver-

age annual rainfall, high temperature, humid-

ity, and evaporations etc. Data on occurrence

of droughts in Sri Lanka during the last three

decades reveals that some parts of the country

have experienced drought regularly.

Almost all parts of Sri Lanka have experi-

enced drought in the last thirty years. An average

of 11,000 hectares of paddy land gets destroyed

every year due to unavailability of water in suffi-

cient quantities. A vast extent of other crops get

affected by drought every year, resulting in huge

economic losses.

References:1. http://www.fews.net/docs/Publications/Afghani-

Drought


| 53 |

stan_OL_2012_02.pdf

2. http://saarc-sdmc.nic.in/drought.asp.

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drought.

4. http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/highlights/2011/

mideast_cenasia_drought/

5. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/

ALeqM5iOEan4bw7oW-K_NxwhICGVsrJ_og

6. The Financial Express

7. http://ocha.unog.ch/OPS/Reports/daily/CAPProj-

ectSheet_880_2010630.pdf.

8. Drought Situations over India Persented by (

Jagvir Singh, G.R. Iyengar, T.N.Jha, B.P. Yadav

and V.K.Jain(Ministry of Earth Sciences Na-

tional Centre for Medium Range Weather

Forecasting(NCMRWF) www.ncmrwf.gov.in.

9. Crisis Management Plan - Drought (National), De-

partment of Agriculture and Cooperation, Minis-

try of Agriculture, GOI.

10. http://nrega.nic.in/DroughtStratDraft.pdf.

11. G.O Ms No 22 & 23, dated 02.11.2011 & 05.11.2011

respectively, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rev-

enue Department, Drought Declaration.

12. Memorandum Submitted to Governments of In-

dia seeking Central Assistance for Drought Relief

measures in Karnataka State, Government of Kar-

nataka, November, 2011.

13. Revised Memorandum Submitted to Govern-

ments of India seeking Central Assistance for

Drought Relief measures in Karnataka State, Gov-

ernment of Karnataka, November, 2011.

14. http://wrmin.nic.in/index2.

| 54 |

Introduction

An OverviewAvalanches, rapid downslope movement of snow

mixed with air and water is a common menace

in the parts of the SAARC region situated in the

higher altitudes in the Himalayan-Hindukush

ranges. The countries vulnerable from this disas-

ter are Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Paki-

stan. The geo-morphological and hydro-meteo-

rological conditions prevalent in these countries

present ideal set-up for avalanches. Being located

in the youngest fold mountain belt where slope

conditions are steep and in many cases unstable,

heavy snowfall followed by even a slight rise in

Chapter 5

Avalanche

temperature can trigger an avalanche. The casual-

ties of the avalanches usually occur at the base of

the higher altitude reaches in the mountain rang-

es where human settlements are present.

As per the EMDAT data, Asia experienced the

major share of avalanches in the year 2011. The

Asian region had 13 avalanche events that ac-

counted for 248 lives. Contrary to this the Ameri-

cas though witnessed 4 events and 63 deaths,

the number of affected people was much higher

than in Asia; a total of 4325 people were affect-

ed in the Americas whereas in Asia 2901 people

were affected (Table 5.1, Figures 5.1 and 5.2).

Continent No. of Events Killed Total Affected

Americas 4 63 4325

Asia 13 248 2901

Europe 1 3 1

Table 5.1:Global avalanche events in the year 2011 (Source: EMDAT accessed on May 21, 2011).

Figure 5.1.:Number of avalanche events in the globein the year 2011.Figure 5.2:Number of global fatalities due to avalanches in the year 2011.


| 55 |

Country No of events Number of fatalities

Afghanistan 2 24

Nepal 3 6

Pakistan 3 3

Total 8 33

The data for the year 2011 shows that among

the SAARC countries Afghanistan, Nepal and Paki-

stan experienced avalanche events. Among these,

Afghanistan had the maximum number of fatali-

ties though the number of events in Afghanistan

was lesser in number as compared to Nepal and

Pakistan (Table 5.2, Figures 5.3 and 5.4).

Figure 5.3:Number of avalanche events and fatalities in SAARC countries in 2011.

A comparative study of distribution of

avalanches in the SAARC countries for the

period 2007-2011 shows that the number

Table 5.2:Number of avalanche events in South Asia (Source: Data compiled by SDMC from media reports).

of deaths due to avalanches in the region

was significantly less than the previous year

(Figure 5.5).

Figure 5.4:Percentage of fatalities in SAARC countries in 2011. Figure 5.5.:Comparison of number of people of died due to avalanches in SARC countries during 2007-2011.

| 56 |

Introduction

Afghanistan

One person was killed and two were injured

when an avalanche struck Sheekay district of

Badakhshan province on February 8. In anoth-

er incident, avalanches in Daikundee province

killed at least 23 and wounded another five on

February 17 and closed the roads between dis-

tricts and the center of the province. The inci-

dent occurred as a result of heavy snow fall in

Sang Takhat district and some other areas of that

province. Seven residential houses were also de-

stroyed due to avalanches and snows. The au-

thorities came forward with relief and rescue and

approached the charity institutions and govern-

mental organisations for taking necessary steps

in this regard2 (figures 5.6 and 5.7).

Nepal

An avalanche ensued by hours-long snowstorms,

killed a man and his baby girl in Langtang, a re-

mote village in Rasuwa district, on March 24

night.

The avalanche also displaced over 15 fam-

ilies as their houses were damaged. The trage-

dy occurred in Mundu and Sindum villages of

Langtang inside the Langtang National Park.

As the avalanche and snowstorm completely

damaged VSAT-telephones, the CDO office in

Dhunche, the district headquarters of Rasuwa,

learnt about the incident next day. Though

the damaged telephone network could be

restored, it took some tome for the electricity

lines to be restored3.

In another incident in the first week of

June, two persons including a Japanese na-

tional died after they got buried under snow

during a trek in the Langtang region. The

Japanese tourist and his guide got buried un-

der the snow as they were returning towards

Helambu via Gonjala Pass after climbing the

Nayagang (5800m) peak4. On November 11,

two Korean nationals were buried in the ava-

lanche while returning from Mt. Lhotse. The

rescue was delayed due to the bad weather

condition5.

Pakistan

On February 14, heavy rains and avalanches

killed three people and wounded seven others

in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The

avalanche was triggered by torrential rains and a

rapidly advancing avalanche hit a hamlet in Kun

Kandia valley, killing a man and a girl while sev-

en others suffered injuries. As a consequence of

this the Karakorum highway got blocked at sev-

eral places and power supply to hilly areas of the

Figure 5.6: People being evacuated from avalanche hit areas (Source: Bakhtar News Agency).

Figure 5.7: Relief and rescue operations in avalanche affected areas (Source: Bakhtar News Agency).

Avalanche


| 57 |

province was disrupted. Continuous downpour

and snowfall also affected life in Abbottabad. The

road between Abbottabad and Murree via Galyat

had to be closed for traffic. Snow and landslides

also blocked several link roads in Galyat6.

In another incident that took place in the

month of July, several hundreds of goats were

buried alive when a mountainous mound fell

upon them in Ghundi Husankhel area of fron-

tier region Lakki. According to reports, goats’

herds were grazing in the mountainous area

when suddenly a mound slipped and fell

upon them. Such mass scale death of goats

as a result of mound fall had inflicted great fi-

nancial loss on poor tribesmen7.

References1. Daily Outlook

2. Bakhtar News Agency

3. Republica News

4. Nepal News

5. Kantipur News

6. Dawn News

7. The Frontier Post

| 58 |

Introduction

Chapter 6

An OverviewThe year 2011, was recorded as the 11 warm-

est year since record keeping started in the

year 1880. The annual global land and ocean

surface temperatures for this year was 0.51°C

(0.92°F) above the 20 century average of 13.9°C

(57.0°F). Comparatively speaking however,

2011 was less warm than 2010 and 2005 which

were the warmest recorded years in the globe.

Separately, the 2011 global average land sur-

Heat and Cold Wave

face temperature was 0.8°C (1.49°F) above the

20 century average of 8.5°C (47.3°F) and ranked

as the eighth warmest on record. The 2011

global average ocean temperature was 0.40°C

(0.72°F) above the 20 century average of 16.1°C

(60.9°F) and ranked as the 11 warmest on re-

cord1. The annual global temperature anomaly

map for the year 2011(Fig 6.1) shows a cluster-

ing of high temperature anomalies over parts

of India.

Figure 6.1:Global temperature anomaly for the period January to December 2011 (Source: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2011/13).

Cold Wave

Many parts of South Asia experienced severe

cold wave conditions in the beginning of 2011.

Many people died and thousands were affected

(Appendix IV).

Bangladesh

The beginning of 2011 brought in severe cold

wave conditions in Bangladesh. About 50 peo-

ple died and nearly one lakh were affected in

the cold wave conditions that prevailed over


| 59 |

the country in the beginning of the year (Ap-

pendix IV). Starting from the beginning of Janu-

ary the country witnessed unprecedented win-

ter. Though the average winter temperature for

the country in January, the coldest month, is

10°C, the mercury dipped by 2-5° in many parts

of the country. In many parts of the country the

temperature went down upto 4.5°C, the lowest

in last 45 years according to Bangladesh Meteo-

rological Department sources2. Increase in wind

speed of the upper jet stream was cited as a

reason for the intense cold wave3.

The affected districts were Panchagar, Th-

agurgaon, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, kuri-

gram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Bogra, Sirajganj,

Pabna, Naogaon, Natore, Rajshahi and Chapain-

awabganj2. Thick fog blanketed the affected ar-

eas during night and morning hours. River and

road communication were severely disrupted.

Flights, train services and river transport were

heavily disrupted due to low visibility conditions.

Many water vessels got stranded and could not

operate, making river transport, one of the ma-

jor modes of transport in the country highly dis-

turbed3. Many people were stranded as the ferry

services were disrupted.

Figure 6.2: Mothers with babies in their laps waiting in the corridor of Nilphamari Sadar Hospital

(Source: The Daily Star).

Cold related diseases increased and the

hospitals in the affected districts struggled to

accommodate the flow of patients (Fig. 6.2).

Children were the worst among the sufferers be-

cause of their vulnerability and absence of spe-

cialised children’s wards in the hospitals3, 4.

Figure6.3:A homeless boy shivers in the bone-chilling cold (Source: The Daily Star).

The cold wave conditions returned in the lat-

er part of the year in December when many suf-

fered and several died. The dead included many

children. Lives of the poor and street dwellers be-

came miserable4 (Fig 6.3).

India

Many parts of India experienced severe cold

wave conditions in 2011. According to EM-Dat

sources (Appendix IV), 80 people died in the

month of January due to cold wave conditions.

The affected states were Uttar Pradesh, Delhi,

Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya

Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. Severe

cold wave / cold wave conditions prevailed

over most of the northern and central parts of

the country on most of the days during the first

three weeks of January. These conditions also

prevailed over the peninsular parts of the coun-

try during the second and third week of January.

| 60 |

Introduction

Minimum temperatures were below normal by

over 5°C on many days over central and penin-

sular parts of the country. However, during Feb-

ruary, these conditions prevailed only at isolated

places on some occasions over parts of peninsula

and eastern parts of the country.

Figure 6.4: Mean seasonal temperature anomalies in °C (Source: Climate Diagnostics Bulletin of India, Winter Season January-February 2011, National Climate Centre).

Heat and Cold Wave

Figure 6.4 shows the mean seasonal maximum

and minimum temperatures in India. Minimum

temperatures were below normal over many

parts of the country except parts of northern/

northwestern and northeastern region and parts

of extreme south peninsula. Over north penin-

sula and adjoining central and eastern parts of

the country, minimum temperatures were be-

low 0 normal by 1 to 2°C. Over parts of Jammu &

Kashmir, west and east Rajasthan, Saurashtra and

Kutch, these were above normal by about 1°C5.

The New Year in India brought cold spells

that swept over many parts of the country

throwing life out of gear and causing miseries to

the affected areas. In the first week of January it-

self, the maximum and minimum temperatures

in many parts dipped alarming below normal.

Some of the recorded temperatures in India in

the first week of January are given in table 6.1.

The severity of cold weather affected the

Location Temperature

Delhi 4.3°C, 3 °below normal

Qazigund (Jammu & Kashmir)

9.8 °C

Keylong (Lahaul & Spiti) 15°C

Narnaul (Haryana) 0.5°C

Karnal 2°C

Hissar 2.5°C

Ludhiana 5.7°C

Ambala 3.2°C

Mount Abu -3°C

Ranchi 4.2°C

Kandhamal (Odisha) -1.5°C

Gaya 2.5°C

Agra 0.6°C, 6° below normal

Table 6.1:Low temperature in parts of India during January 2011 (Source: www.newsonair.nic.in, www.thehindu.com,

www.ddnews.gov.in).

states in many ways. In Srinagar the famous

Dal Lake had frozen which had an impact on

the business of boat and shilkara operators for


| 61 |

quite some period (Fig. 6.5 and 6.6). In Himachal

Pradesh, the Surajtal and Chandratal lakes and a

70 kilometer stretch of Chandrabhaga River were

completely frozen.

The piercing chilly weather in the country

accompanied with dense fog enveloping many

parts during morning and night disrupted life.

Schools in many states were closed. Air, rail and

road traffic were hampered. Flights were delayed

leading to miseries of the passengers. Rail traffic

was also delayed as the trains were operated at

lower speeds to avoid accidents. Road accidents

in the night and morning hours increased due to

low visibility conditions. Poor people living in the

streets had a miserable time. Many lost their lives

or suffered (Fig. 6.7-6.8). Cold related diseases

increased. However, in many states the govern-

ments released funds to provide shelter, food,

clothes, blankets and medical facilities to the

poor and destitute6, 7, 8.

Figure 6.5:Kashmiri vegetable seller collects vegetables from the snow cover field near the Dal Lake in Srinagar

(Source: www. newshopper.sulekha.com).

Figure 6.6: A Kashmiri woman rows her traditional boat on the frozen waters of the Dal Lake in Srinagar


Figure 6.7:A calf joins people sitting near a bonfire to keep warm in Allahabad, India

(Source: www. newshopper.sulekha.com)

Figure 6.8: Homeless people warm themselves near burning coal on a cold morning in Jammu


| 62 |

Introduction

Heat Wave

Several parts of India reeled under severe heat

wave conditions in the months preceding mon-

soon. Many parts of northern India, peninsular In-

dia and some coastal parts bore the brunt.

The northern states of India: Delhi, Uttar

Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana saw steep

rise in daytime temperatures that affected peo-

ple’s lives. The temperatures recorded in some of

the major cities of northern India in the middle

of May were: Delhi (44.1°C, + 5°C), Jhansi (46°C),

Allahabad (42°C), Kanpur (42.3°C), Hissar (45.2°C),

Amritsar (44.8°C, +5°C), Ludhiana (43.4°C), Patiala

(43°C), Karnal (42°C), Chandigarh (40.9°C), Churu

(48.6°C, +8°C), Sriganganagar (46.9°C), Bikaner

(45.7°C), Kota (44.7°C), Jaisalmer (44.3°C) and Pi-

lani (44.1°C)9 .

The coastal states of Odisha and Andhra

Heat and Cold Wave

Pradesh also sizzled under severe heat wave con-

ditions. In Odisha the western and interior parts

showed very high temperatures while tempera-

ture in the coastal parts was variable.

References:1. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2011/13

2. http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resour

ces/5359066B6095F92285257849005E9955-Full_

Report.pdf

3. The Independent

4. The Daily Star

5. Climate Diagnostics Bulletin of India, Winter Sea-

son January-February 2011, National Climate Cen-

tre

6. www.newsonair.nic.in

7. www.thehindu.com

8. www.ddnews.gov.in

9. www.ibnlive.in.com


| 63 |

Chapter 7

An OverviewThe South Asian countries have a history of de-

struction of precious forest cover due to for-

est fire. In most of the cases the forest fires are

initiated by human negligence. The incidents

predominantly occur in dry winter or summer

months when the trees retain less moisture. In

2011 there were reports of forest fire from Af-

ghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and

Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan

A huge forest fire broke out in the city of

Laskargah in the southern Hemland province

Forest Fire

of Afghanistan in March (Fig. 7.1). The fire raged

for several hours and nearly half of the 129

hectare forest was gutted. This old forest area

was a source of greenery and pleasant weather

during the summer months in the region. The

local people joined hands with the firefighters

in controlling the fire. However, it took long to

control the forest fire due to lack of adequate

fire extinguishing equipment. There were no

casualties in the fire. The Governor’s office pro-

posed construction of roads, retaining walls and

procurement of necessary fire fighting equip-

ments to prevent future fires in the forests in

the area1,2.

Figure 7.1: Fire raging in Lashkargah (www. pajhwok.com). Figure 7.2:Smoke billowing out of forest fire in Sundarbans in Bangladesh (Source: http://dev.bdnews24.com).

Bangladesh

A forest fire was reported from the Nagli camp in

Chandpali range of east Sundarbans in Bangla-

desh in March (Fig. 7.2). The fire spread sporadical-

ly at ground level across several acres of the for-

est. The local people came forward to join hands

with the firemen and forest department officials

in controlling the fire by cutting the line of fire3, 4.

In another incident in Rauzan, Chittagong

several thousands of rubber trees spread over

| 64 |

Introduction

79 acres of plantation were burnt to ashes in

March. The loss incurred in the fire was estimat-

ed at several crores of Taka. It took enormous

effort of the officials to control the fire as ini-

tially they were unable to reach the peak of the

hills. The incident was ascribed to the act of a

group of miscreants who earlier cut down sev-

eral rubber trees and then set fire to the forest4.

Bhutan

Among the South Asian countries Bhutan has

maximum forest cover and every year the coun-

try witnesses forest fire incidents mostly in the

dry winter months. The year 2011 was no excep-

tion to this trend.

In the last week of January a forest fire in

Thimphu destroyed about 250 acres of for-

est and some properties. It was spotted by

some people at the Wangchu Bank and be-

fore it could be brought under control, the fire

reached the nearby shops and houses (Fig. 7.3).

Large quantity of timber and other merchan-

dise were destroyed5.

In the last days of the month of February,

three separate fire incidents spread over three

days destroyed nearly 2000 acres of forest land

in Bhutan. In the first incident in Ngatsang ge-

wog a forest fire destroyed more than 650 acres

of forest land on February 23. Another fire start-

ed in Lingmethang the next day and destroyed

more than 1000 acres of trees while the last fire,

which started next day, destroyed about 400

acres of forest land. Acres of lemon grass land

and saplings were destroyed in the fire. The for-

est officials were aided by the local people in

firefighting but the steep terrain impeded the

progress of fire control measures5.

On March 15, more than 200 acres of

chirpine forest was destroyed in a fire that

started in Mongar in the morning. Forest of-

ficial along with 30 volunteers worked tire-

lessly to control the fire. Though the fire could

be prevented from spreading to the adjacent

highway, the steepness of the terrain, strong

wind and the thick undergrowth of lemon grass

hampered the progress of work. The fire was

suspected to have been started by some cow

herders5.

In a similar incident, a fire possibly started

by burning of debries by villagers raged in the

Pam village of Trashigang 25 acres of forest

land on April 6 (Fig. 7.4) .

Figure 7.3: Forest fire near Thimphu that destroyed 250 acres of forest land (Source: Kuensel).

Figure 7.4: Fire raging on the slopes of Trashigang (Source: Kuensel).

Forest Fire


| 65 |

India

A major fire broke out atop Ramadevara and Be-

lagumba hills located in the Devarayanadurga

forests near Tumkur in the southern Indian state

of Karnataka on 18 January. According to the vil-

lagers in Belagumba, the entire hill measuring

around 1,000 acres was engulfed in fire, destroy-

ing varieties of plants and animal species. Ac-

cording to the officials, the place where the fire

broke out was a government land which was

being used for the purpose of cow grazing (Go-

mala). A group of 20 fire fighters were pressed

into service to extinguish the fire. It was sus-

pected that the fire had claimed the lives of wild

boars, leopards, monkeys, rabbits, and different

types of birds with their eggs and nests and also

destroyed various types of valuable medicinal

plants6.

A wildfire destroyed 10 hectares of grass-

lands in Koottakal and Choriyanthandu areas

of the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary in January (Fig.

7.5). The fire was brought under control by the

joint efforts of forest officials, activists of the Eco-

Development Committee (EDC) and a fire and

Rescue team from Cheruthoni. According to of-

ficial estimates, four hectares at Koottakal and

six hectares at Choriyanthandu were destroyed

by the fire. A senior official of the Forest Depart-

ment said it was likely that the fires were created

by anti-social elements. The authorities called

for the support and participation of the general

public to prevent such incidents in future6.

Another instance of wildfire was reported

from Kerala that destroyed more than 100 hect-

ares of grass land on the Chembra peak, home to

unique flora and fauna, in the Kottappadi section

of the Meppadi range of forests under the South

Wayanad Forest Division. Forest Department of-

ficials, activists of the EDC and villagers put in

considerable effort to bring the fire under con-

trol. The wild fire was first reported by some tour-

ists who were near a forest watch tower on the

premises of the Chembra peak estate and in no

time the fire spread swiftly to the adjacent forest,

fed by the winds. Many areas on the mountain

were inaccessible but the foresters' team could

bring the fire under control. As a precaution-

ary measure, trekking to the Chembra peak was

banned for a few days6.

The hill range housing Sri Varahalakshmi

Nrusimhaswamy temple in Visakhapatnam in

Andhra Pradesh was on fire at several places on

March 6 with valuable forest cover getting de-

stroyed (Fig. 7.6). According to the locals, this

has become a common feature during this time

of the year with unscrupulous elements deliber-

ately burning the forest cover to convert it into

charcoal for commercial sale illegally. Fire began

on the hill slope adjacent to Annadanam Build-

ing behind the temple premises in the morning

when some people lit a heap of garbage alleg-

edly dumped by the hotel and lodge owners

despite several warnings from the Simhachalam

Devasthanam. By evening fire spread to several

places like Madhavadhara, near Thatichetlapalem

and Seethammadhara and in the darkness the

rings of fire were visible from many parts in the

Visakhapatnam city.

In another incident, the forests in the Ti-

rumala hill ranges in Andhra Pradesh erupted

in fire on March 9. Described as ‘creeping fire' in

the parlance of forestry, the surface fire is said to

have damaged by and large shrub jungles and

trees here and there without however damaging

their roots. Many ‘low order creatures' like snakes,

mongoose, scorpions perished in the forest fire.

Six acres of banana plantation including 50

teak trees, worth Rs.14 lakh were destroyed in

| 66 |

Introduction

a fire caused by electric short circuit at Thim-

mapuram village in Guntakal rural in Andhra

Pradesh on May 19. The fire mishap occurred at

a time when the banana crop was ready for har-

vesting. Strong gales caused the electric short

circuit and the sparks emanating from the live

overhead wires fell on the dried banana leaves

triggering the fire. The fire also destroyed teak

plantations worth Rs. 8 lakh and the entire drip

irrigation system in the plantation6.

Forest Fire

Figure 7.5: Wildfire raging in the Kannampady forest area under the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary (Source: The Hindu).

Figure 7.6:Forest on fire on Simhachalam Hill range (Source: The Hindu).

Nepal

Three persons were injured and 23 houses and

sheds gutted in a fire that raged in six commu-

nity forests of Jhula and Garayala VDCs in Rukum

district for 2-3 days in the first week of January.

Five houses and 18 sheds belonging to local resi-

dents were reduced to ashes in the inferno that

swept through the Singhalek Community Forest

and engulfed adjoining forests. The injured were

admitted to the local hospital. Around 100 hect-

ares of forest were estimated to have been de-

stroyed in the fire7.

Another raging fire engulfed over one-and-

a-half dozen community forests in Udayapur

district for over a week in March and caused

severe damage to the ecosystem and proper-

ties. The blaze engulfed Chapan, Chapanmahila,

Asari, Babari, Nawaudaya, Saraswati, Hokse com-

munity forests in Triyuga Municipality and the

locals found it difficult to control the fire. Ac-

cording to the Federation of Community Forest

Users, Nepal, around 1,000 hectares of the for-

ests were destroyed in the fire7.

Sri Lanka

Hundreds of acres of forest, atop the Piduruta-

lagala Mountain in Nuwara Eliya, had been de-

stroyed by a humongous fire that raged through-

out February 23. The fire could be brought under

control by evening with the help of the Fire Bri-

gade, Police, armed forces and the public. Prelimi-

nary investigations confirmed the District Secre-

tary’s suspicion that someone may have set the

forest on fire8.

Another forest fire broke out in the Kalu-

galla Patana area in Ududumbara on the Eastern

slope of the Knuckles Range on June 27, destroy-

ing over 600 acres of forest cover. According to

the authorities, the fire had spread from Kalugal

Patana area to Yahangala Patana area. Dousing

the fire became difficult because it had spread

along a slope along with strong winds. However,

the fire had been doused with the support of a

SLAF Bell 212 helicopter and the deployment of


| 67 |

over 50 Sri Lanka Army personnel. The Knuckles

Range witnessed another fire on July 31, when a

sudden fire erupted and destroyed about 30 to

40 acres of a pinus forest land. It became difficult

to douse the fire as it had spread fast, aided by

the prevailing dry weather in the region.

On June 28, about 30 acres of forest land in

Digampathana in Sigiriya were completely de-

stroyed by fire that ravaged the area and de-

stroyed more than 500 valuable plants. The For-

est Conservation Department said the fire had

spread rapidly because of the dry weather con-

ditions prevailing in the area and the difficulty in

accessing the area devastated by fire contributed

to the delay in extinguishing it. The fire was final-

ly doused by forest officers who were assisted by

the Dambulla Urban Council fire Brigade, the Si-

giriya police and local villagers9.

On August 4, a large area of the Hingurugoda

Forest Reserve in Meegahakiula was destroyed

by fire. In about 12 hours the fire spread over an

area of more than 20 acres. A turpentine planta-

tion was the worst affected. The Hingurugoda

Forest Reserve that falls under the administration

of Forest Conservation Department is primar-

ily a reforestation project, but many other trees

including teak, satin wood, lihiniya, ketakela and

rare species of plants are found within the re-

serve. An official of the Forest Conservation De-

partment was of the opinion that poachers had

set fire to the forest to track down wild animals9.

In another incident, over 300 acres of forest

cover was destroyed by fire which erupted in

Keerthi Bandarapura in Walapane on August 11.

Earlier, attempts by the Walapane police to extin-

guish the fire with the assistance of the residents

in the area proved abortive and the assistance of

the SLAF had been sought and the fire could be

controlled later8.

On September 3, an area extending up to

10 acres in the Imaduwa State Timber Reserve

in Laggala was completely destroyed due to a

wildfire that could be controlled after a long op-

eration. The forest officers were assisted by the

Laggala police, Laggala forest office and the vil-

lagers of the area. Large amount of timber was

destroyed in the fire. Difficulty in accessing the

origin of the fire contributed to the delay in ex-

tinguishing it9.

References:1. www. pajhwok.com

2. http://english.ruvr.ru

3. http://dev.bdnews24.com

4. The Independent

5. Kuensel

6. The Hindu

7. Kantipur News

8. The Island

9. Daily Mirror

| 68 |

Introduction

Chapter 8

An overviewThe year 2011 witnessed significant and dev-

astating earthquakes of varying strengths

in several parts of the globe, which caused

huge losses of both property and persons.

The frequency of earthquake events surged

globally in comparison to last year 2010

Earthquake

as reported by SADR (2010)1 of SAARC Di-

saster Management Centre (SDMC). About

eighteen earthquake events with magni-

tude greater than 7.0 occurred in all over

the world (Table 8.1), which was found to be

more devastating in terms of death toll and

destruction (Table 8.1).

Year/Month/Day Longitude Depth(km) Magnitude Region

2011 /01 /01 -63.136 577 7.0 Santiago del Estero, Argentina

2011/ 01 /02 -73.326 24 7.2 Araucania, Chile

2011 /01 /13 168.471 9 7.0 Loyalty Islands

2011 /01 /18 63.951 68 7.2 Southwestern Pakistan

2011 /03 /09 142.842 32 7.3 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011 /03 / 11 142.373 29 9.0 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011 /03 / 11 141.111 43 7.9 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011/ 03 /11 144.590 19 7.7 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011/ 04/ 07 141.573 42 7.1 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011/ 06 / 24 -171.837 52 7.2 Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands

2011/ 07 /06 -176.413 68 7.6 Kermadec Islands region

2011/ 07 /10 143.264 23 7.0 Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan

2011 /08 /20 168.098 32 7.2 Vanuatu

2011/ 08 /20 168.222 28 7.1 Vanuatu

2011/ 08/ 24 -74.506 145 7.0 Northern Peru

2011/ 09 /03 169.748 171 7.0 Vanuatu

2011/ 09 /15 -179.270 593 7.3 Fiji region

Table 8.1 : Global Earthquakes Magnitude (> 7.0) and Greater in 2011 (Source: USGS2)

Most devastating tsunamigenic earthquake

(Mw 9.0) rocked near the east coast of Honshu,

Japan on March 11, 2011 in which about 20,000

people were killed. This great tsunamigenic

earthquake of Japan created a wide-scale panic

among the people of coastal countries of Pacific

and Indian Ocean, including the coastal countries

of SAARC regional Countries (Bangladesh, India,

Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).

Analyses of the global earthquake data re-

lated to its frequency and the trend of different

strengths (M > 6.0) suggests that trend assumed


| 69 |

a positive slope since 2009 (160) to 2011(204) as

shown in Figure 8.1, while analyses of global di-

saster scenario in comparison to previous years

2009-2010, the total number of people killed

during these years showed erratic variation. The

maximum death toll was reported in the previ-

ous year 2010 (3, 20, 129), while the year 2011

reported a total death toll of only 21, 401 people

due to earthquake (Figures 8.2 – 8.3) in spite of

the number of moderate to strong earthquakes

occurred in the year 2010 was lesser (174) than

that of the year 2011 (204). It is worth to men-

tion that death toll in the year 2010 was a dras-

tically very high because of the great 2010 Haiti

killer earthquake (Mw 7.6) and the 2010 Qinghai

earthquake in which a total of 2,22,570 and 2,968

people were reported dead, respectively. The Figure 8.1: Graph showing number of earthquakes of different

magnitudes occurred during last four years.

Date UTC Region Magnitude Number Killed *

2011/ 01/ 18 Southwestern Pakistan 7.2 3

2011/ 02 /04 Myanmar-India border region 6.2 1

2011/ 02 /21 South Island of New Zealand 6.1 181

2011/ 03/ 10 Myanmar-China border region 5.5 25

2011/ 03 /11 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan 9.0 20,352

2011/ 03 /24 Myanmar 6.9 74

2011 /04 /07 Near East Coast of Honshu, Japan 7.1 3

2011 /04 /11 Eastern Honshu, Japan 6.6 7

2011/ 05/ 11 Spain 5.1 10

2011 /07 /19 Kyrgyzstan 6.1 14

2011 /09/ 05 Northern Sumatra, Indonesia 6.7 10

2011 /09 /18 Sikkim, India 6.9 108

2011/ 09 /19 Guatemala 5.6 1

2011 /10 /23 Eastern Turkey 7.1 601

2011 /10 /28 Near the coast of central Peru 6.9 1

2011 /11 /09 Eastern turkey 5.6 8

2011 /12 /11 Guerrero, Mexico 6.5 2

Total 21,401

year 2011 though witnessed the 2011 great tsu-

namigenic Japan earthquake (Mw 9.0), but death

toll was restricted to about 20,352, which was

much lesser than that of previous year as report-

ed by SADR (2010)1 (Table 8.2).

Table 8.2: Loss of lives during damaging earthquakes that occurred in the year 2011

* Includes "missing and presumed dead"; (Accessed on 6-01-2012) (Source: USGS)

| 70 |

Introduction Earthquake

South Asian Seismicity in 2011

A majority of south Asian countries is very

much prone to high seismic potential because

of intricate seismotectonic settings and complex

geology of the region. A total of five countries

(Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan)

of SAARC Member States are located in the vicin-

ity of the Himalaya, which is seismically very ac-

tive. Other three countries (Bangladesh, Maldives

and Sri Lanka) are associated with coastal hazards

and having history of experiencing earthquake

shaking from the nearby seismogenic zones

of neighbouring countries. The occurrences of

earthquakes were found to take place differently

in different periods. In comparison to the years

of 2007 – 2010, the year 2011 recorded relatively

lesser earthquakes (4.0 < M < 9.1) in the South

Asian country (Figure 8.3a, Table 8.3a, Appendi-

ces VA - VC). Earthquakes reported by different

agencies for South Asian earthquakes are shown

in the enclosed appendices that reflect uneven

distribution of earthquakes of different strengths

in the region. Most of earthquakes recorded dur-

ing the year 2011 were not damaging except the

September 18, 2011 Sikkim – Nepal Border earth-

quake, while majority of earthquakes even of mi-

Figure 8.3a: Graph showing global estimated death toll due to earthquakes during 2007 - 2011

cro to moderate earthquakes generated enough

public panic in the region.

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Afghanistan 1 5 10 29 34

Bangladesh 0 0 1 5 0

Bhutan 1 4 3 1 1

India & Adjacent region

77 82 56 70 27

Maldives 0 0 0 0 1

Nepal 23 24 18 19 45

Pakistan 25 7 5 17 13

Sri Lanka 0 0 1 0 1

Total 127 122 94 141 122

Table 8.3a: Significant earthquakes of South Asia Region 2011

Figure 8.3b: Graph showing distribution of earthquakes for last 5-years for South Asia

(Source: EMDAT, GDAC, IMD, PMD, NSC, SDMC)

Earthquakes were reported by several agen-

cies other than EMDAT3, and GDAC4 (Appendix

VA), such as India Meteorological Department

(IMD) (Appendix VB), and National Seismological

Centre of Nepal (NSC) (Appendix VC), different

sources showed seismic propensity for the year

2011 of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives Islands

and Sri Lanka is comparatively much lesser than

those of other SAARC Member countries (Table


| 71 |

8.3a), while other SAARC countries located in

the vicinity of Himalayan region, except Bhu-

tan showed appreciable number of earthquake

events. Maximum number of moderate earth-

quakes occurred in Nepal (45), followed by Af-

ghanistan (34), India and its border region (27),

and Pakistan (13).

Earthquake Damage Scenario of 2011

The overall damage pattern in terms of peo-

ple killed and people affected due to different

earthquakes are shown in Figures 8.3 (b & c) that

clearly depict that India is worst sufferer followed

by Nepal, and Bhutan. This scenario of dam-

age is mainly contributed to the September 18,

2011 Sikkim – Nepal trans-boundary earthquake,

which killed people in the border region of India,

Nepal and Bhutan, though its epicenter was lo-

cated in the northern part of Sikkim, India.

Country Killed % no of Killed

Tot. Affected

% of Number affected

Bhutan 1 0.82% 20016 2.8

India 112 91.80% 575200 80.62

Nepal 7 5.74% 117213 16.44

Pakistan 2 1.64% 1000 0.14

Total 122 100 713429 100

Table 8. 3b: A table showing percentage distribution of damage pattern

A total of 122 people were reported to have

been killed in SAARC region during the year

2011, among which 112 were from India, seven

from Nepal, two from Pakistan, and one from

Bhutan (Table 8.3b). But the statistical distribu-

tion of the people affected during 2011 due

to earthquakes are found much more in Bhu-

tan than that of Pakistan, while India showed

maximum affect followed by Nepal. This observa-

tion is corroborated with the size and number of

stronger earthquakes that rocked different SAA-

RC countries.

(Source: EMDAT3)

Figure 8. 3c: Distribution of people killed during earthquakes in SAARC Member States

Figure 8.3d: Distribution of people affected during earthquakes in SAARC Member States

Significant Earthquakes of South Asian Region in 2011

Afghanistan

Afghanistan has proven track record of exhibit-

ing high seismic propensity because of its com-

plicated seismotectonic settings associated with

several sets of seismogenic faults and linea-

| 72 |

Introduction

ments, making the region seismically vulnerable

and hazardous as evident from the Seismic Haz-

ard Map of Afghanistan as shown in Figure 8.4a

Distribution of historical seismicity (1990 - 2011)

recorded till the year 2011 (Figure 8.4b) is found

to be very much corroborative with the seis-

mic hazard map of Afghanistan. Afghanistan

was associated with some of following percep-

tible earthquakes that generated sufficient panic

among its people.

Earthquake

Figure 8. 4a: Map showing seismic hazard map of Afghanistan

Hindu Kush Earthquakes

An earthquake of magnitude 5.6 rocked the

Hindu Kush region on March 21, 2011 at 0949

GMT2. The depth of the earthquake was 184.60

km and its impact was strongly felt in north-

east of Afghanistan at 36.5631 degrees north

latitude and 70.9438 degrees east longitude.

There were no reports of damage of structures

without any causality in the region9.

North Afghanistan Earthquake

On May 14, 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 5.9

struck in remote region of north Afghanistan. The

epicenter was located at about 140 km (86 miles)

from Khorugh in Tajikistan and 236 km (146 miles)

from Mingora in Pakistan, with a depth of 207 km

(128 miles) 2. There were no reports of casualties

or damage9. The remote region of north province

of Afghanistan was also jolted due to this moder-

ate earthquake as shown in Figure 8. 5a.

Figure 8.4b: Distribution of historical seismicity since 1990 till 2011. Blue dots denote deeper earthquakes, while green, yellow, and brown

dots denote shallower earthquakes.

Figure 8.5a: Snap showing the remote region of North Afghanistan jolted in Earthquake (M5.9)

(Source: Press TV)

Northern Provinces Earthquake

The Hindu-Kush region of Northern Province of

Afghanistan jolted with the earthquake mag-

nitude 5.2 on August 18, 2011.The earthquake

occurred around 4.22 a.m. local time and the

epicenter distance of earthquake was found to

be over 200 km around the Hindu-Kush region

located at the depth of 55 km. There were no


| 73 |

causalities reported in this earthquake. Especial-

ly this region is highly prone to frequent earth-

quake 10 (Figure 8.5b).

Figure 8.5b: Snap showing the affect of the Earthquake (Mw 5.2) on structure around the Hindu Kush

[Source: PAN (Kabul)]

Hindu Kush Region Earthquake

On August 26, 2011, an earthquake (Mw 5.4)

struck Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan and its

record exhibited severe shaking in most parts

of areas adjacent to the Hindu Kush (Figure 8.6).

The tremor took place at depth (199.10 km) at

20.32 hrs local time in the northern part of Af-

ghanistan. The epicenter was found at 36.4463

degrees north latitude and 70.6950 degrees east

longitude2.

Figure 8.6: Snap showing the record of August 26, 2011 earthquake (Mw 5.4) in Hindu Kush region

Hindu Kush Region Earthquake

Other events of earthquake in highly seismic

Hindu-Kush region had jolted on April 19, 2011.

The intensity of tremor was determined at 42

km from the capital city, Kabul. People became

very panickys though aftershocks were of micro

tremors, while some of those were perceptible.

But relatively shallower depth (38 km) of events

might have caused an appreciable shaking in the

region. There were no report of causalities and

damage. This earthquake was important in sense

that it hit the Hindu Kush region having trans-

boundary impact (Figure 8.7).

Figure 8.7: Map showing the intensity of the earthquake of October 18, 2011 Hindu-Kush Earthquake Magnitude (M4.3)

(Source: USGS)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is by and large seismically less ac-

tive than that of its other neighbouring coun-

tries of South Asia located in the vicinity of the

seismically active Himalayan zone. A systematic

study on earthquake in Dhaka city jointly con-

ducted by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory,

Columbia University, USA and the Department

of Geology, Dhaka University in 2004 demon-

| 74 |

Introduction

strated that the western part of the capital from

Mirpur-Kalyanpur to Pagla along the Buriganga

River and the eastern part from Uttar Khan-Bad-

da to Demra along the Balu River fall in the high

risk zone. Bangladesh continued to get shaking

from perceptible earthquakes that occurred dur-

ing the year 2011 in the border areas with India

and Myanmar. Severe shakings due to the Sep-

tember 18, 2011 Sikkim mainshock and its after-

shocks were felt by Bangladesh, which generated

a large-scale panic as a warning for its unplanned

city because of the poor structures and fragility

of the built structures or buildings. Despite the

great epicenter distance of the Dhaka city from

Sikkim mainshock, the degree of earthquake

shaking was very much appreciable and per-

ceptible to residents of the city12. In addition to

a series of tremors resulted from the September

18, 2011, Bangladesh also felt about 10 tremors

of different strengths from the surrounding seis-

mogenic regions of Bangladesh during February

2011 – September 2011.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Rich-

ter scale had struck the country at 7: 47 hrs local

time on February 4, 2011 .The epicenter of earth-

quake was located at Myanmar-India border at

the distance of about 402 km east-northeast of

Dhaka. The hypocenter was 70 km deep because

of which the tremor had much lesser shaking.

There were no report of causalities and dam-

age12. Another earthquake occurred on Febru-

ary 12, 2011 felt in several parts of the countries,

the tremor that had measured 4.3 on the Richter

scale began at 4:25 p.m. and lasted about 15 sec-

onds. The epicenter was 96 km south-east of the

capital somewhere near the Comilla-Tripura bor-

der. It was also felt in the Sylhet region including

Habibganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj. No ca-

sualty or loss of property was reported. On Feb-

ruary 24, 2011, another shaking was experienced

at 11.36 BST (local time near Bangladesh-India

border region), measuring 4.3 on Richter scale.

The distance of the epicenter was 106 km east-

southeast of Bangladesh. There were no report of

any casualty in the earthquake; however it gener-

ated fear among the people of Bangladesh, resid-

ing near the border area.

On June 3, 2011, a tremor measuring 4.9 on

the Richter scale was felt at 6:53 BST. The epicen-

ter of the quake was 488 km off from the capital

near Nepal-Sikkim (India) border region. There

were no reports of casualties or damage in the

earthquake12. On June 9, 2011, a light tremor of

4.5 magnitude jolted several parts of the coun-

try around 1:34 BST. The epicenter of the earth-

quake was in Rajbari-Faridpur border region at

108 km west from the capital12. On June 21, 2011,

a tremor measuring 4 on the Richter scale had

struck in the capital and other part of the coun-

trie at 10:50 BST. Its epicenter was 64 km of the

capital somewhere near Comilla-Chandpur bor-

der region. There were no reports of damages or

casualties12. On June 24, 2011, mild earthquake

measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale had jolted

the several parts of the country at 6:39 BST. The

epicenter of the earthquake was in Tripura of

India and 133 km east of Dhaka11, 12. On July 10,

2011, a tremor measuring 4.8 on the Richter

scale had struck in several parts of the country

at 6:40 BST. There was no report of any casualty

or damage12. An earthquake again jolted in capi-

tal and its adjoining areas on July 22, 2011.The

tremor had measured M 4.1 on the Richter scale

and the epicenter of earthquake was found to

have located in the north-east of Bangladesh12.

People felt more panic with simultaneous earth-

quake event within this month which had stuck

in different areas of Rajshahi and Rangpur di-

Earthquake


| 75 |

visions at 11.50 BST on July 28, 2011. An earth-

quake of magnitude 4.1 on Richter scale and

epicenter at found Naogaon region occurred in

Bangladesh12. All these smaller tremors felt in

Bangladesh during the year 2011 had sufficient-

ly generated fear among people of the country

due to frequent shakings, even if there were no

reports of damages of property and causalities

in Bangladesh.

Impact of Sikkim Earthquake in Bangladesh

On September 18, 2011 the Sikkim earth-

quake (Mw 6.9) occurred in the northern part of

the Sikkim about 495 km away from the north-

west of Dhaka city at about 20 km depth (Figure

8.8a). It was the strongest tremor to have hit the

region in the last six decades. The tremor had dam-

aged a number of buildings and structures in parts

of the country. People received a sudden evening

shock and started to run out of their buildings and

generated inconsolable panic across the capital

city of Dhaka, Bangladesh (Figure 8.8b). There were

no report of causalities and much damage except

few buildings showed cracks in some of structures.

The panic-stricken people rushed out into the

street from house.

Bhutan

Owing to complex geotectonic settings of

Bhutan, besides its location in the courtyard of the

mighty Himalayan zone, the country has become

one of the seismically most prone countries of the

world. The year 2011 was found to be seismically a

quiet year in sense of generation of the damaging

earthquake within its own territory. However, a pow-

erful tremor rocked western Bhutan on September

18, 2011 due to the Sikkim earthquake (Mw 6.9)2

in the vicinity of Bhutan (Figure 8.8a). During the

strong shaking in Bhutan a Partial collapse of the

communication system was observed (Figure 8.8b).

Figure 8.8b: Evening shock: People run out of their buildings and gather on the streets as a 6.8 magnitude earthquake sends a wave of panic

across the capital and elsewhere in the country (Source: The Daily Star, BSS, Dhaka

The quake’s epicentre was located at a dis-

tance of 64 km from Gangtok, Sikkim, India, the

tremors of which were also appreciably felt in

Thimphu. Cracks to buildings were reported in

some parts of the country. In Thimphu, the re-

ferral hospital’s emergency ward received three

trauma cases, and two cases of disjointed shoul-

ders of people who had fallen during the tremor.

The three women who were traumatised were

all students of the Institute of Language and Cul-

ture Studies in Semtokha. The hostel filled with

screams, as things started to fall and make all

kinds of noises, and within seconds it was a cha-

os as everyone started to flee the hostel. There

was a report of earthquake chaos in hospitals of

Figure 8.8a: Map showing epicenter location of the September 18 Sikkim earthquake (Mw 6.9)

| 76 |

Introduction

Thimphu that noticed patients scrambled to get

out of hospital, along with their drips and carry-

ing their glucose bottles. Patients were scream-

ing and struggling to run and found that they

were limping and holding on to each other with

glucose bottles in their hands as reported by the

nurse on duty said. The hospital building in Thim-

phu suffered several cracks and damages. Several

bottles of medicines were reported wasted due

to fall of glass bottles from the shelves in several

hospitals.

In Paro, the Ta dzong suffered structural

damage (Figure 8.8b), while some buildings in

Phuentsholing town have also cracked from

the tremor. A massive landslide was reported in

Phuentsholing that buried a car, which was on

its way to the hospital. The driver managed to es-

cape. In Dagana, the quake had damaged Phun-

sum community primary school in Lajab gewog.

About nine houses in three gewogs of Samtse

Earthquake

Figure 8.9b: Snap showing partial damage of the a Paro - Ta Dzong wall during the September 18, 2011 Sikkim earthquake

(Mw 6.9) (Source:Kuensel Newspaper

were reported damaged by the quake. Power

cuts were also reported throughout the country.

Except for landline and Tashi Cell network, cel-

lular services remained broken and jammed for

hours. Thimphu Dzong has sustained some cracks

in the Utse and one of the four corner towers. Oc-

cupants were shifted out to safer parts. The Sik-

kim mainshock that hit Bhutan was just 90 km

away from the epicentre and its tremors were felt

strongly up to160 km from epicentre. Paro and

Haa, experienced more damage quoted by the

government official of Bhutan. A detailed study

on damage pattern due to the Sikkim earthquake

(Mw 6.9) in Bhutan was found to have affected

about 3,757 structures in 18 districts of Bhutan14.

990 structures damaged in Chukha.

Such scenario reflects the public panic in

Bhutan due to the September 18, 2011 Sikkim –

Nepal earthquake (Mw 6.9) even by trans-bound-

ary earthquake. Failure of connectivity in such a

disastrous moment in itself is a grave disaster as

quoted by the disaster officials of the Royal gov-

ernment of Bhutan13. The Prime Minister, Jigmi

Y Thinley requested the people of Bhutan to re-

main calm and alert.

India

During the year 2011, about 27 weak to strong

magnitude earthquakes, including a strong mag-

nitude Sikkim earthquake occurred in India. Only

Sikkim earthquake was found to be disastrous

earthquake that caused sufficient losses of both

property and person in India, Nepal and sur-

rounding region of Bhutan. Some of the widely

felt Indian and its border regional earthquakes

are discussed below:

Delhi EarthquakeAn earthquake (Mw 7.4) rocked south-west-


| 77 |

ern Pakistan and its shaking was so severe that

people of north-western part of India, including

the national capital, New Delhi also felt the trem-

or (Figure 8.10). The India Meteorological Depart-

ment had recorded the epicentre of the earth-

quake in south-western Pakistan that falls in the

desert area bordering Iran and Afghanistan. The

quake was located at 28.9 degrees north on the

latitude and 64 degrees east on the longitude

but according to US Geological Service report,

the epicentre of the earthquake was located 45

km from Dalbandin in Southwest Pakistan2. It

was reported that the focal depth of the earth-

quake was 84 km. There was no immediate re-

port of any loss of life or property14, 15.

Figure 8.10: An earthquake of 7.4 magnitudes had struck south-western Pakistan felt in New Delhi (Source: USGS2; IMD)

properties in earthquke10. A tremor, measuring

3.1 on the Richter scale, jolted Sangli district of

Maharashtra on February 2, 2011 at 6:20 hours

local time. The epicenter was located about

14 km away from Sangli in Waranawati area,

no damage or casualty was reported in

earthquake 18, 19, 20. Shaking due to an earthquake

(M 6.4) was felt in different parts of the north-

east and West Bengal provinces of India on Feb-

ruary 4, 2011. The Epicentre of the earthquake

was located at Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.

It was about 30 km below the earth surface and

was strongly felt in Assam5. The tremor was also

felt in Meghalaya, Manipur and parts of Mizoram,

West Bengal and Nagaland. There were no report

of causality and damage19, 20. The Chamoli and Ru-

draprayag districts of Uttarakhand of India were

shaken by a low-intensity earthquake (M 3.3) on

February 14, 201119,20,21, and it rekindled the worst

memory of the 1999 Chamoli earthquake (M 6.3)

that caused a severe loss to both property and

person in the area. An earthquake (M 5.8) had

struck in Kashmir valley on March 21, 2011. The

epicentre was located in the Hindu Kush Moun-

tain range in Afghanistan19,20,21, which is the site of

intense seismicity that have affect in the adjoining

regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. This

earthquake created panic among the people of

Kashmir and its surrounding region of J & K, India.

The national capital region of India felt shaking

due to earthquake (M 5.7) on April 5, 2011. Tremor

was felt in New Delhi and adjoining Noida, Ghazi-

abad and Gurgaon. The epicenter was located in

the Indo-Nepal border region. No report of any

damage was received from the area20. April 25,

2011, witnessed an earthquake (M 5.0) in the Jam-

mu-Kashmir of India of which the epicentre was

located in Pakistan (Figure 8.11a). The earthquake

was of mild intensity with coordinates measur-

Micro to Moderate Tremors in IndiaSeveral micro to moderate earthquake trem-

ors were felt in India during the year 2011. A 3.2

magnitude earthquake hit the Haryana-Uttar

Pradesh border at 8.37 a.m. on January 26, 2011.

There was no report available to suggest any

casualty or damage18 due to this micro-tremor.

An earthquake of magnitude 2.3 occurred in

Bhachau on January 30, 2011 at 4.54 a.m., which

was located about 22 km away from Gandhi

Nagar. There were no reports of loss of life and

| 78 |

Introduction

ing 36.230N and 72.170E. There were no report of

damage and loss of life 14, 19, 20.

Earthquake

Figure 8.11a: An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Jammu and Kashmir on April 25, 2011.

Figure 8.11b: Snap showing panic-stricken people out of their homes because of the Sonepat earthquake (M 4.2)

The Kashmir valley was rocked again by low

magnitude earthquake (M 4.4) on May 30, 2011.

The epicentre was also located in Pakistan with

coordinates of 32.070N of latitude and 70.110E

of longitude. There was no report of any damage

due to the quake15. Punjab–Haryana earthquake

(M 4.6) on June 20, 2011 had generated signifi-

cant amount of tremor that was felt in different

parts of Panjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The

epicentre was located in Uttarakhand near the

Chamoli region. There were no report of any loss

of life and property18, 19; moreover, it generated

severe panic among the people of these Indian

provinces.

It was reported that a quake of medium in-

tensity jolted Delhi and its adjoining satellite

towns on September 8, 201116 at about 11:28

IST that pulled panic-stricken people out of their

homes as shown in Figure 8.11b.

The tremor was reported to have occurred,

measuring 4.2 on Richter Scale with Haryana's

Sonepat as epicentre, were felt across Delhi and

its adjoining satellite towns of Ghaziabad and

Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Gurgaon in Haryana.

The tremors were felt for less than ten seconds.

There were no reports of any casualty. A report

from Chandigarh said that tremors were felt

in Panipat, Faridabad, Gurgaon among others

towns of Haryana. An earthquake (M 4.8) rocked

Bhuj and surrounding areas of the Kutch district

on the September 12, 2012 and it had generated

severe panic among residents in the radius of 50

km of the region.

The detailed of the September 18, 2011 Sik-

kim earthquake (Mw 6.9) is described in a sepa-

rate section because of its wide-scale damaging

report from India, Bhutan and Nepal.

Sikkim EarthquakeAs mentioned above, the occurrence of Sep-

tember 18, 2011 Sikkim–Nepal earthquake (Mw

6.9) reflects that it is one of the best examples of

trans-boundary earthquake that affected almost

all border regions of Himalaya, which includes,

India, Nepal, Bhutan and a part of Bangladesh.

The event, which comes under the category of

"moderate earthquake” was strongly felt in Sik-

kim, Assam, Meghalaya, northern parts of West

Bengal, Bihar, parts of other eastern and northern

regions of India. As mentioned above, it was also

well felt in Bangladesh. The jolt was severe in the

Sikkim State of India (Figure 8.12).


| 79 |

The epicenter was located in a seismically

known and active belt called, Alpine-Himalayan

seismic belt. The earthquake rocked at 12:40:48

UTC and recorded by several seismological agen-

cies in the world (USGS) 2 and India Meteorologi-

cal Department (IMD)5. The quake was also re-

corded by all the seismological observatories of

Geological Survey of India21. The earthquake is a

shallow focus (depth 19.7 km; USGS) of magni-

tude 6.9 Mw (USGS) having its epicenter near the

India-Nepal border (latitude : 27.73°N ; longitude:

88.08°E) and situated 68 km north-west of Gang-

tok, Sikkim, India (Figure 8.13a). To locate the Sik-

kim earthquake, precisely for better estimates,

seismological parameters were a great challenge

for seismological agencies because of fewer

numbers of seismological observatories ascribed

to different organisations of India and abroad.

The preliminary hypo-central parameters of this

earthquake estimated by the Seismic Monitor-

ing Network of India Meteorological Department

(IMD) are given in Table 8.4.

It was important because correct estimates

of seismological parameters could provide con-

spicuous information on strength of shaking due

to earthquake. This endeavor also shed light on

nature and extent of damage pattern in the epi-

centre area. Estimates of these parameters made

by regional and global agencies were corroborat-

ed with local and national agencies to ascertain

the authenticity of the estimates.

Figure 8.12: Snap showing the extent of earthquake shaking felt at different locations

Figure 8.13a: A map showing epicenter of September 18 Sikkim–Nepal earthquake (Mw 6.9)

Magnitude 6.9

Date-Time Sunday, September 18, 2011 at 06:10:48 PM at epicenter (Local Time)

Location 27.723°N, 88.064°E

Depth 19.7 km (12.2 miles)

Region Sikkim, India

Distances 68 Km (42 Miles) NW of Gangtok, Sikkim, India 119 Km (73 Miles) NNW of Shiliguri, West Bengal, India272 Km (169 Miles) E of Kathmandu, Nepal572 Km (355 Miles) N of Kolkata (Cal-cutta), West Bengal, India

Table 8. 4: Detail of Sikkim earthquake of September 18, 2011 (Source: USGS2, IMD)

Table 8.5: Earthquake Location Parameters by GSI 21

The recorded seismograms by three (Ad-

ampool, Agartala and Nagpur) seismic observa-

tories of Geological Survey of India (GSI) 21 had

| 80 |


conspicuously provided preliminary estimate

of the earthquake location parameters (lati-

tude, longitude, depth and origin time) by geo-

physicists / seismologists of Geo-seismology

Division, Geological Survey of India. The three

station method was used to get the observed

travel time between the recorded station and the

earthquake, while a robust 1-D velocity model of

Mishra et al. (2010)22 was considered to estimate

the theoretical travel time estimate and requi-

site parameters of the 2011 Sikkim earthquake

as shown in Table 8.5. Earthquake parameters es-

timated by GSI (Table 8.5) was found to be very

much closer to the estimates made by USGS and

IMD (Table 8.4). The magnitude of the mainshock

is found to be 6.9 ML and the focal depth is 18.2

km. The latitude and longitude of the epicentre

of the mainshock are found to be 27.7770 N and

88.0380 E respectively.

Seismotectonic Scenario of the Sikkim-Nepal Earthquake Source Zone

The Sikkim and adjoining region is known

to be the part of the seismically active region of

the 'Alpine-Himalayan global seismic belt', where

four great earthquakes (M ≥8.0) occurred in the

region. The September 18 Sikkim earthquake

occurred near the boundary between the India

and Eurasia plates, in the mountainous region of

northeast India near the Nepal border. The colli-

sion with the Eurasian Plate along the boundary

between India and Nepal formed the orogenic

belt that created the Tibetan Plateau and the Hi-

malaya Mountains, as sediment bunched up like

earth before a plow. The Indian Plate is currently

moving northeast at 5 cm/yr (≈ 2 in/yr), while the

Eurasian Plate is moving north at only 2 cm/yr (≈

0.8 in/yr). This is causing the Eurasian Plate to de-

form and the India Plate to compress at a rate of

4 mm/yr (≈ 0.15 in/yr). In the Eastern Himalayan

Region, the Indian plate converges into Tibetan

plate at a rate of approximately 50 mm / yr. Initial

analysis suggests the earthquake was complex,

likely a result of two events occurring close to-

gether in time at depths of approximately 20 km

beneath the earth’s surface. At the latitude of the

September 18 earthquake, the India plate con-

verges with Eurasia at a rate of approximately 46

mm/yr towards the north-northeast. The broad

convergence between these two plates has re-

sulted in the uplift of the Himalayas, the world’s

tallest mountain range. The preliminary focal

mechanism of the earthquake suggests strike

slip faulting, and thus an intraplate source within

the upper Eurasian plate or the underlying India

plate, rather than occurring on the thrust inter-

face plate boundary between the two.

The occurrence of earthquakes in the region

is broadly associated with the tectonic activity

along well known faults in the Himalayas, namely,

Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Main Central Thrust

(MCT). Other prominent geological / tectonic fea-

tures in and around Sikkim include: Tista linea-

ment, Kunchenjunga lineament, Purnea-Everest

lineament, Arun lineament and Dhubri fault in

the southeast. According to scientific Experts, the

entire area of Sikkim lies in Zone IV. The seismic

Zone IV is broadly associated with seismic inten-

sity VIII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI)

scale.

Date Time (UTC)

Lat (deg. N)

Long (deg. E)

Mag-nitude

18/09/2011 13:11:59 27.6°N 88.5°E 5.0

18/09/2011 13:54:17 27.5°N 88.4°E 4.5

18/09/2011 21:51:52 27.6°N 88.4°E 4.2

22/09/2011 16:44:43 27.6°N 88.4°E 3.9

Table 8.6: Significant aftershocks and their magnitudes recorded in September 2011


| 81 |

The magnitude and frequency of aftershocks

has shown decreasing trend of aftershocks with

the lapse of time as shown in Table 8.6.

This region experienced relatively moder-

ate seismicity in the past, with 18 earthquakes

of M 5 or greater over the past 35 years within

100 km of the epicenter of the September 18

event. The largest of these was a M 6.1 earth-

quake in November of 1980, 75 km to the

south-east. Seismological research revealed

that the Sikkim–Darjeeling Himalayan region

has not experienced large earthquakes for

more than 200 years, although the Indian plate

has been subducting (going underneath) un-

der the Eurasian plate at about 2 to 5 cm per

year, accumulating slip potential of about 4 m.

Seismologists have demarcated a gap zone

for earthquakes where no great earthquake

so far occurred despite being prone to a great

earthquake of magnitude 8 (Mishra, 2011)23.

The occurrence of the September 18, 2011 Sik-

kim earthquake (Mw 6.9) created severe panic

among the residents of north-east and north

India. It was reported that more than 100 peo-

ple were died so far due to this earthquake. The

major tectonic features traversing the Sikkim-

Himalaya are the well defined Main Bound-

ary Thrust (MBT) and circular overturned Main

Central Thrust (MCT) to the north. The Sikkim-

Himalaya lying between Nepal and Bhutan Hi-

malaya falls in the eastern sector of the Hima-

layan arc. The Sikkim region is surrounded by

several damaging earthquakes of the past al-

though it has not experienced so far an earth-

quake of magnitude 8. The region has only

experienced moderate seismicity in the past.

The most significant earthquake that occurred

in its neighbourhood is the 1934 Bihar-Nepal

earthquake of magnitude 8.4 to the west that

caused intensity VIII damaging Sikkim-Himala-

ya, the 1897 Shillong earthquake of magnitude

8.7 to the southeast and 1950 Assam earth-

quake of magnitude 8.7 to the east of Sikkim.

Geological Survey of India has already an-

ticipated that Sikkim Himalayan region is vul-

nerable to future strong to great earthquakes

as it is due for the same for years. That was why

Geo-Seismology Division, CGD, GSI (CHQ) had

conducted extensive seismological monitor-

ing of entire Sikkim – Darjeeling Himalaya by

installing sophisticated Seismographs in a well

defined network in the region since the year

2007 to generate dynamic snapshots of the

Sikkim – Darjeeling Himalayan region22. The re-

sults envisaged the vulnerability of the region

to earthquakes in the culminated zone where

MCT got buckled and assumed omega shaped

structure, indicating that the zone is more vul-

nerable to earthquakes of different strengths.

It is spectacular to note that the 18th Septem-

ber 2011 Sikkim earthquake (ML 6.9) occurred

near the intersection of the Kanchanjunga and

Tista Lineaments, which clearly falls in the zone

which was earlier demarcated zone of seismicity

by GSI team.

Damage Scenario of the Sikkim Earthquake The seismic hazard in Sikkim region is con-

centrated due to the presence of sedimentary

rocks and loose soil in the region. It is reported

that the present earthquake of magnitude 6.9

is the biggest earthquake in Sikkim so far. The

earthquake tremors associated with heavy

rainfall caused rock fall/landslides in parts of

Sikkim. Roads also reportedly cracked in sev-

eral places and people ran out on the streets

in fear. There were a lot damages to buildings,

property and floras reported from Sikkim (Fig-

| 82 |

Introduction

ures 8.14a & b). The affected area was blocked

due to landslides and water logging. Schools

and hospitals were reported to have been

damaged significantly during strong shaking

in Sikkim. Table 8.6 describes the loss of lives,

damage of property and casualties in India

and its border regions of Nepal and Bhutan.

The damage statistics for different parts of Sik-

kim and its adjoining areas are shown in Table

8.7. The shaking was so serious that it was ap-

preciably felt by most parts of north India

(Figure 8 .13b). Figure 8.13b: Snap showing spread of earthquake shaking in different

parts of India

S.N. Affected countries

Deaths Injured Cases

Population Displaced

Population Affected

Health Facilities

Schools Homes

1. India 112 > 300 30 285 17,679

2. Nepal 6 159 7,000 12,000 64 498 10,677

3. Bhutan 15 4 36 20 Full 324 Partial

Total 133

Table 8.6: Casualties and damages due to Sikkim–Nepal Earthquake

Source- WHO, National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC)

Earthquake

S. No. District No. of houses damaged No. of schools damaged No. of hospitals damaged

1 North 6000 NR 07 FD

2 South 820 21 -FD NR

3 East 6000 - FD 9000 – PD 201 - FD 23 FD

4 West 1679 –FD 64- FD NR

TOTAL 14499 - FD 9000 – PD 286 - FD 30-FD

Table 8.7: Showing causalities and damages in India on updated 9/11/2011


| 83 |

Source:WHO, http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/18/very-strong-earthquake-in-sikkim-india/

Figure 8.14a: Snaps showing damage scenario of September 18, 2011 earthquake (M 6.9)

Figure 8.14b: Snaps showing damage scenario of the earthquake (M 6.9)

Nepal

Nepal is seismically very active because of it in-

tricate seismotectonic settings located in the

main segment of the Himalayan range. Active

seismotectonic setting of Nepal is supported

by a series of occurrences of micro to moderate

earthquakes in Nepal and its vicinity. In 2011, a

total perceptible earthquakes recorded by dif-

ferent seismological agencies was 45, which was

about 2.5 times more than those recorded in the

preceding year 2010 (Table 8.3a, Figure 8.3b).

Among those recorded earthquakes during 2011,

the most disastrous earthquake recorded in Ne-

pal was the September 18, 2011 Sikkim–Nepal

earthquake (M 6.9), whose epicentre was located

in the northern Sikkim.

| 84 |

Introduction

The earthquake affected 15 eastern districts

of Nepal, as well as the capital of Kathmandu in

the Central Region. The affected districts included

15 districts in the eastern region, three districts in

the Kathmandu valley and the remainder in cen-

tral and western Nepal (Figure 8.15). The tremor

was felt across 26 districts of Nepal. It was report-

ed that over 4000 families were displaced from

the border areas of Nepal. About 3917 houses/

buildings were completely destroyed and 5966

partially damaged. About 130 schools were com-

pletely destroyed, while 550 were partially dam-

aged. Similarly, 26 health facilities had completely

destroyed and 38 partially damaged. It was also

reported that about 63 Government buildings

Earthquake

such as VDC offices, community buildings, elec-

tricity stations reported to be destroyed with a

further 204 buildings partially damaged. In 13 dis-

tricts of Nepal, schools are reported to be either

completely destroyed or partially damaged.

Other micro to moderate earthquakes of

Nepal occurred during the year 2011 were not

so powerful (Appendix VC) to bring the damage

to property and person in the region because

of their lesser strengths originated from the

deeper layers. The frequent shaking in Nepal due

to moderate earthquakes however generated

enough panic among people of the area to sense

fear for anticipated bigger earthquakes in the re-

gion after the perceptible shaking.

Figure 8.15: Map showing earthquake affected districts of Nepal during September 18, 2011 Sikkim–Nepal earthquake (M 6.9)

Pakistan

Pakistan is located in the vicinity of highly seis-

mically active zones of the world, such as the

Himalayan and its adjoining regions associ-

ated with the several sets of active seismogenic

faults, like the Chaman-Heart seismic belt; Indo-

Kohistan seismic belt; Hindu Kush – Pamir seis-

mic knot; and the border area with Iran having

a series of hidden and exposed seismogenic

faults in the region. The past damaging earth-

quakes ; such as the 1930 Quetta earthquake

and the 2005 Muzzafrabad earthquake brought

catastrophic damages to both property an lives

in Pakistan. The year 2011 is found to be rela-

tively calm and seismically less damaging for

Pakistan during which a total of 13 moderate


| 85 |

to strong earthquakes reported to have rocked

the country with two people killed in Pakistan

(Table 8.3a & b).

Micro to Strong Earthquakes of PakistanThe Hindu-Kush region experienced an earth-

quake measuring 4.8 Richter scale on January 1,

2011 at 11.23 a.m.16 that generated a several panic

among residents of Pakistan. An earthquake mea-

suring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck the north-

western parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the

January 2, 2011 with its epicentre located in the

Hindu Kush, a border area with Afghanistan. The

tremor was very much appreciable and it was also

felt in Peshawar area of Pakistan. There were no

reports of damages, and loss of property17. The

Pakistan - Afghanistan border experienced an

earthquake of magnitude 4.7 on the Richter scale

on January 7, 2011 with its epicentre located at

30 km east of Khuzdar in Balochistan province16,

which brought residents out of their houses be-

cause of severe panic due to shaking in the area.

Pakistan Earthquake A devastating earthquake (M 7.2) was re-

ported that rocked Pakistan on January 18, 2011.

The earthquake parameters are described in the

Table 8.8 and Figure 8.17.

Magnitude 7.2

Date-Time

• Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 20:23:23 UTC

• Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 01:23:23 AM at epicenter

• Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

Location 28.732°N, 63.928°E

Depth 68 km (42.3 miles) set by location programme

Region South-western Pakistan

Distances

50 km (30 miles) WSW of Dalbandin, Pakistan

260 km (160 miles) W of Kalat, Pakistan

310 km (190 miles) ESE of Zahedan, Iran

1035 km (640 miles) WSW of Islamabad, Pakistan

Table 8.8: Earthquake parameters of January 18, 2011 Pakistan earthquake (M 7.2)

Its epicentre was in a remote area located

about 320 km (200 miles) south-west of the

Baluchistan capital Quetta, near the Afghan bor-

der. Two woman patients were reported died

from heart attacks and 200 mud houses were

damaged in Balochistan. In Dalbandin, several

people were injured when the roofs of their

houses collapsed (Figure 8.18). The shaking of

the earthquake was very strong and was felt in

different parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India,

including some parts of the middle-east coun-

tries of the world. Tremors were also felt as far

away as Dubai and New Delhi. Local TV of Paki-

stan reported that the quake was felt through-

out Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces in

Pakistan, as well as in parts of Iran and India 25, 26.

Many people in the country's largest city, Kara-

chi, rushed out into the streets in panic after the

quake. Most of the mud-wall houses were dam-

aged in and on the outskirts of Dalbandin town.

| 86 |


Figure 8.17: Maps showing earthquake locations and intensity map of January 18, 2011 Pakistan earthquake (M 7.2).

Villages of Killi Qasim Khan, Killi Khuda Bakhsh,

Killi Baz Mohammad, Killi Daudabad, Chater and

Yakmach were affected. A number of govern-

ment offices were also damaged. Many people

did not want to return to their damaged homes

because of fears of aftershocks. Some houses in

Kalat and Surab were also damaged. As men-

tioned above people of Quetta, Pakistan were

aware of the devastation caused by the 1935

earthquake in the area hence they spent the en-

tire night outside their homes in freezing minus-

seven degree cold25.

This major earthquake occurred as a re-

sult of normal faulting within the lithosphere

of the subducted Arabian plate. The present-

day tectonic environment of Pakistan is de-

termined by the motions of the Arabian and

Indian plates north-northeast with respect to

the Eurasian plate at velocities of 40 mm/y at

the longitude of this earthquake. Arabian-plate

lithosphere is subducted beneath the Eur-

asia plate at the Makran coast of Pakistan and

Iran, and becomes progressively deeper to the

north. The subducted Arabian plate is known

Figure 8.18: Snaps showing damage scenario of Dalbandin due to Pakistan earthquake (M 7.2).


| 87 |

to be seismically active to depths of about

160 km. The frequency of moderate and large

earthquakes within the subducted Arabian

plate is not high compared with the frequency

of such events in some other subducted plates

worldwide, but several earthquakes have oc-

curred within this slab in the region of this

event over the past 30 years, including a mag-

nitude 6.7 shock two hundred kilometers to

the south-west in 1983.

Relief and Response operation by South Asian Governments during 2011 Earthquakes

It is a proven fact that earthquake is most

uncertain natural calamity that can strike any-

where at any point of time that may cause un-

expected damage to property, person, flora

and faunas in the region as witnessed dur-

ing the damaging September 18, 2011 Sik-

kim–Nepal earthquake (M 6.9). As mentioned

above that the September 18, 2011 earthquake

was a trans-boundary earthquake, which af-

fected India, Bhutan, and Nepal due to strong

shaking, besides spread of severe panic

among the people of Bangladesh, residing in

the border areas of NE India. The January 18,

2011 Pakistan earthquake (M 7.2) was found

to be panic-stricken one in several parts of

Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Iran that caused

considerable damage to buildings and struc-

tures due to appreciable shaking. Governments

of the affected countries of South Asia (India,

Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan) took prompt and

comprehensive measures to deal with earth-

quake disasters by deploying their rescue mis-

sions and disaster response forces to normalise

the situation through proper arrangements of

relief, reconstruction, rehabilitation measures

during and after earthquakes that rocked affect-

ed areas.

The Government of India’s response was

very fast and comprehensive. According to the

report available from the Ministry of Home Af-

fairs, massive relief and rescue operations were

carried out in the quake-affected areas of Sik-

kim, Bihar and West Bengal. It was reported that

about 5,000 army personnel, 700 ITBP person-

nel helped in relief and rescue operations. More

than 3,000 people had been rescued by armed

forces from quake-ravaged areas of Sikkim. Sev-

enteen helicopters had been also deployed by

India Air Force (IAF) with rescue teams and relief

supplies to affected areas immediately. The ar-

rangement for airdropping of food packets was

being carried out by the management of the

State Govt. of West Bengal. The central govern-

ment of India also deployed rescue team for all

four districts of Sikkim to assess damage, medi-

cal aid, supply of drinking water and essential

commodities. The Government of India sanc-

tioned an ex-gratia of Rs. two lakh each from

the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to each

deceased person and Rs. one lakh each to those

seriously injured in the earthquake. During res-

cue operation five teams of NDRF had been de-

ployed for search and rescue operations at Ship-

gyar, Biha and Bringbang Ramam, Lingzya and

Dzongu villages in Mangan. About 10 teams of

NDRF consisting of 419 personnel along with

necessary search and rescue equipment were

deployed very first day in Sikkim. Teams sta-

tioned at Lachung and Chungthang area of Sik-

kim were involved in carrying out rescue and

relief operations besides repairing of damaged

roads and bridges in the affected areas of West

Bengal, Bihar and Sikkim states of India as shown

in Figure 8.19a & b and Figure 8.20a & b. A medi-

cal team comprising 19 doctors (surgeon – four,

| 88 |


orthopedician – six, anaesthesian – five, neuro-

surgeon – two, and medicine – two) deployed

by the Ministry of Health, continued to provide

medical help. About 85 relief camps were set up

by the provincial government of Sikkim, besides

the army and ITBP (Pegong) camps, which had

provided shelter to 2700 and 550 affected peo-

ple. Five psycho-social care experts from NIM-

HANS were also deployed in Sikkim by the Min-

istry of Health, Government of India.

Figure 8.19: (a) Snap showing the role of the army personnel in repairing the network cables at the border of Sikkim and West Bengal on Monday; and (b) Snap showing the role of ITBP officials in supervising the damaged roads due to high intensive tremor in North Sikkim on Monday.

a b

Figure 8.20: (a) Snap showing rescue operation by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of India; and (b) Snap showing rescue operation by NDRF involving local community during the Sikkim earthquake (M 6.9).

a b

The Indo-Tibetian Border Police (ITBP) had pre-

pared disaster management stores, comprising tents

and blankets, for immediate airlifting to quake-hit

Sikkim. The support materials which were used for

the victims were lifted from an airbase in New Del-

hi and were sent to the regional response centre in

Gangtok, which had been created in the aftermath

of the devastating quake. Over 800 ITBP person-

nel were undertaking relief and rescue operations

in the aftermath of the earthquake. In Sikkim, the

Border Roads Organisation succeeded in reopen-

ing the road leading to the most sought after tour-

ists spots of Chhangu and Nathula in East district

of Sikkim.


| 89 |

The worst affected provincial states of India

during September 18, 2011 earthquake were Sik-

kim, West Bengal and Bihar. Affected areas of pro-

vincial (Sikkim, West Bengal and Bihar) territory of

India worked in close coordination for effective

rescue, relief and restoration operation after the

earthquake and these states also coordinated with

the Government of India in implementing their

own rescue and restoration plans for quick recov-

ery of the affected areas due to the earthquake. In

order to express solidarity with Sikkim, the victim

state, other provincial states of India generously

supported in terms of materials and money28 to

hasten its rescue – relief and restoration operation.

Prime Minister of India had given a financial assis-

tance of Rs. 1000 crore for the earthquake affected

people in Sikkim28. As mentioned above, Border

Road Orgainisations helped in strengthening the

basic infrastructure of the State did not take any

support from external or international agencies

during its rescue, relief, and restoration operation.

In West Bengal state of India, death toll

in the quake related incidents had gone up to 12.

Relief and restoration works were on in worst hit

Kurseong, Kalimpong sub-division in Darjeeling

hill and other parts of north Bengal. The provincial

government of West Bengal reviewed the situa-

tion at a high level meeting in the tremor ravaged

Kurseong. The West Bengal Government had sent

dry food packets and relief materials to the ma-

rooned people of the state. The state government

had taken all possible steps to rescue stranded

tourists in Sikkim. The West Bengal government

had announced two lakh rupees compensation to

the next of kin of the dead and 50,000 rupees to

the injured in quake related incidents.

In Bihar, the death toll in the quake related

incident was reported to about 20. Districts of

Bihar where people succumbed to their injuries

were Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Begu-

sarai, Araria and Sitamarhi. Maximum numbers

of six casualties were reported from Darbhanga

district of the state. Relief and rescue operations

were in full swing in earthquake affected areas

of Bihar state of India. The Government of Bihar

reviewed the situation with officials of Disas-

ter Management Department and instructed

the district authorities to provide all possible

help to the victims. The state government an-

nounced an ex gratia payment of Rs. one lakh

fifty thousand to the kin of those killed in the

earthquake. According to a State Disaster De-

partment, 10 injured persons were admitted to

local hospitals. AIR Patna correspondent report-

ed that most of the people died in stampede

and house collapse that followed the tremors.

Several bodies were recovered from the debris

of collapsed houses as shown in Figure 8.21.

Figure 8: 21a &b: Snaps showing collapsed houses during Sikkim-Nepal earthquake

a b

| 90 |


Nepal Government showed very quick re-

sponse during earthquake relief operation in its

affected areas. Ministry of Home Affairs, Govern-

ment of Nepal took all plausible measures to deal

with earthquake disasters in the border areas

with India29. It deployed a trained battalion of its

Military Response force during the earthquake.

The Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee

(CNDRC) took immediate measure to identify

the needs of shelter and food for the displaced.

It provided kitchen utensils and tarpaulins and

free medical services to the all injured people.

The government of Nepal provided NPR 100,000

to families of the deceased, while NPR 5,000 was

provided to displaced families whose house was

destroyed by the district teams during the as-

sessments for immediate relief, besides addition-

al support from the Central government of Nepal

of NPR 20,000 per family depending on their situ-

ation. A total cash support of NPR 25,000 to fami-

lies was given by the Nepal Government whose

house had been destroyed, while NPR 125,000

was given to the family whose family member

died. Estimated losses and damages were re-

ported, as of September 26, as NPR 74,997,930

(US$ 999,972). The Government of Nepal had

taken initiative for better coordination between

government and international organisations pro-

viding immediate response to displaced people.

National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC)

was involved in collecting information from the

respective DDRCs (mainly from security forces

and other local agencies) and then DDRCs coor-

dinated with all affected VDCs (police posts, llaka

offices and others) to obtain detailed informa-

tion. Such coordination with other government

departments helped the government in prepar-

ing a feasible recovery programme for displaced

people. The Government led District Disaster

Relief Committees to facilitate the response ef-

forts at the district level. Several clusters such as

education, health, nutrition and protection held

cluster meetings at the national level during the

earthquake chaos. DDRC coordination meetings

were organised in the affected districts to ensure

an effective relief operation at the district level

and stakeholders meetings and media briefings

are being held regularly by MoHA. Government

of Nepal involved international agencies in post

disaster loss assessment work during rescue, re-

lief and restoration operation due to the Sikkim–

Nepal earthquake.

In Nepal, International organisations, like

UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan Nepal, LWF, UMN

and Department of Education and UNFCO Bi-

ratnagar had been engaged in the assessment

work in different districts. In support of the Gov-

ernment's relief efforts, partners including UN

agencies, NGOs and Red Cross Movement con-

ducted assessments from their bases in Birat-

nagar in the eastern region, and inter-cluster

coordination meetings were organized by the

humanitarian community both at the national

and regional levels. Internatonal Fedration of

Redcross had delivered immediate assistance

to some 5,000 beneficiaries with Disaster Relief

Emergency Fund (DREF) and it supplied relief in-

cluding 1,000 pieces of blankets, 400 extendable

tents and 200 arctic tents in affected areas. It was

also reported that IFRC coordinated with partner

agency and government on relief operation due

to access to the affected areas. In response to the

quake, ADRA also helped families rebuild their

lives through participating in the construction of

earthquake-resistant shelters, and supplying ur-

gently needed hygiene kits30.

Pakistan Government organised an emer-

gency meeting with the chairman of the Nation-


| 91 |

al Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan

in Islamabad soon after the earthquake (M 7.2)

rocked its Balochistan province on January 18,

2011. Necessary instruction was given to arrange

relief goods for affected areas of Balochistan

to meet any emergency arisen due to January

18 Pakistan earthquake (M 7.2). NDMA took im-

mediate step to arrange necessary relief goods,

including food, tents, medicines and blankets

that rushed to affected areas through two C-130

aircraft of PAF. The Pakistan Air Force and Army

were on high alert and two air missions were

involved in assessment of needs in quake-hit ar-

eas. In addition, Bell and MI-17 helicopters of the

Pakistan Army and a Cessna aircraft were kept in

Quetta with three medical teams to be deployed

on short notice. The provincial government of

Balochistan directed its Provincial Disaster Man-

agement Authority to immediately dispatch re-

lief goods for the affected people in Dalbandin,

where all deputy commissioners of Balochistan

were involved in conducting a survey to assess

losses caused by the quake. Government of Paki-

stan did not seek any sort of external assistance

during relief operation in Balochistan.

Earthquake Predictability and Initiatives of SAARC Disaster Management Centre

The year 2011 was the year of earthquake di-

saster that caused huge losses of lives and prop-

erty on March 11, 2011 Tohoku, Japan earthquake

(Mw 9.0) and on September 18, 2011 Sikkim–Nepal

earthquake (Mw 6.9). People suffered a lot and fell

into great traumas due to irreparable losses due to

earthquakes. Victims of earthquakes questioned to

earthquake experts why the earthquake was not

predictable, when it would become predictable

so that earthquake hazards can be mitigated to

the greater extent by adopting plausible measures

to minimise earthquake risks. It is a proven fact

that the prediction of earthquake is not possible

with the present state of knowledge of Science

and technology because of complex processes in-

volved in earthquake genesis. Scientific commu-

nity of the world has been involved in earthquake

precursory studies since years using multi-disci-

plinary science to understand how earthquake

generates and what cause the earthquake at vary-

ing depths of different strengths. According to

earth scientist of Ministry of State for Earth Scienc-

es, a better warning mechanism for earthquakes is

in process of development in India. Prof. (Dr.) Harsh

Gupta, a globally renowned Earth Scientist and

Seismologist, presently Member, National Disaster

Management Authority (NDMA), India, addressed

news media of South Asia and he informed about

unique procedure of earthquake precursory study

that may lead to development of earthquake

warning system in future for the region28. The pro-

cedure is based on extensive study of crustal struc-

ture through several sets of drilled boreholes up

to a depth of about 8 km each in the quake-prone

Koyna region of Maharashtra, India to understand

the changes that occur underground when an

earthquake strikes. The Government of India had

already signed a Memorandum of Understanding

with the International Continental Drilling Pro-

gramme in this regard. The entire project expected

to cost about Rs. 300-400 crore. It has been report-

ed that the initiative launched by the government

would provide the scientists an opportunity to

study the earthquakes more closely in real-time28.

SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC)

is one of the regional Centres of South Asia As-

sociation for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that

deals with disaster management of all kinds of

natural disasters by providing extensive policy and

planning advise to the respective government of

| 92 |

Introduction

SAARC Member States through organising various

activities, such as capacity building programmes,

documentations, workshops, seminars, expert

group meetings, dissemination of disaster related

information and best practices among member

States since its inception.

On approval of Governing Board of SAARC

Disaster Management Centre, SDMC organised a

a successful comprehensive SAARC training pro-

gramme on “Earthquake Risk Mitigation” in col-

laboration with Indian Institute of Technology,

Roorkee, India during June 6-17, 2011 at Roorkee.

Figure 8.22: Photograph showing group of trainees during June 2011.

Earthquake

The principal purpose is to pertain a spe-

cialised technical training among the profes-

sionals of SAARC Member States so that the

trained personnel can be trainers of trainees.

There are extensive programmes for adoption

of earthquake resistant structures and build-

ings for minimising earthquake hazards. SDMC

had organised an Expert Group Meeting on

Seismic Hazards among SAARC Member States

so that proper methodology can be adopted

for earthquake hazard mapping of the earth-

quake-prone areas of SAARC States. Recently,

SDMC had successfully developed a template

on Safety of schools and hospitals by apply-

ing rapid visual assessment of structural and

non-structural measures techniques of Prof. A.

S. Arya, which has now been extended to the

safety of schools and hospitals in multi-disaster

conditions31.

Reference:1. SADR 2010

2. USGS

3. EMDAT

4. GDAC

5. IMD

6. PMD

7. NSC


| 93 |

8. SDMC

9. PAN (Kabul)

10. Press TV

11. Xinhua

12. The Daily Star, BSS, Dhaka

13. Kuensel Newspaper

14. Daily Times, Lahore

15. The Frontier Post, Karachi

16. DD News

17. Hindustan Times

18. The Hindu

19. The Times of India

20. Zee News

21. GSI (Geological Survey of India)

22. Mishra O.P., G.K. Chakrabortty, O.P. Singh, D.C.

Ghosh, K. K. Mukherjee, and P.C. Das, 2010, Seis-

mogenesis in Sikkim – Darjeeling Himalaya and

its crustal heterogeneities: Future Vulnerability,

GSI Report 50p.

23. Mishra O.P., 2011. Interview NDTV on September

18, 2011.

24. WHO, Natural Emergency Operation Centre

(NEOC)

25. Dawn News

26. The Daily Star

27. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

28. Newsonair

29. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Nepal

30. Adventist Development and Relief Agency Inter-

national (ADRA)

31. Template on Rapid visual assessment of School

and Hospitals developed by SDMC

| 94 |

Introduction

Chapter 9

An Overview

Landslide is a common disaster in many of

the South Asian countries. In many parts of the

SAARC member countries the lithology is steeply

dipping which become more unstable with the

influence of heavy precipitation, human inter-

ventions and various other factors. The data

for the year 2011 shows that Bangladesh had ex-

perienced one of the 10 major global landslide

incidents (Table 9.1).

Landslide

Country Date Number of persons

killed

Number of

persons affected

Korea Rep 26/07/2011 59 2000

Colombia 4/11/2011 40 175

Indonesia 30/11/2011 34 -

Philippines 22/04/2011 24 574

China P Rep 9/5/2011 22 -

Indonesia 6/5/2011 19 4

China P Rep 5/7/2011 18 2

Bangladesh 4/7/2011 17 17

Malaysia 21/05/2011 16 6

Guatemala 20/09/2011 16 -

Table 9.1: Top 10 landslide fatalities and affected in 2011

Source: EMDAT accessed on May 14, 2012

The year-wise distribution of landslideds in

South Asia for the period between 2007-2011

shows that there has been a declining trend (Fig-

ure 9.1). This may be a reflection of intensified

landslide mitigation measures and community

awareness in the region.

Figure 9.1: Distribution of landslides in SAARC region for the period 2007-2011 (Source-EMDAT & Media Report accessed on July 10, 2012).

Countries Number of people killed

Afghanistan 3

Bangladesh 25

Bhutan 1

India 32

Nepal 63

Pakistan 7

Sri Lanka 24

Total 155

Table 9.2: Number of fatalities in South Asia (Source: Data compiled by SDMC from media reports).

Figure 9.2: Percentage distribution of landslides in the SAARC region during the year 2011

(Source: Datacompiled by SDMC from media reports).


| 95 |

The distribution of landslides in the SAARC

region for the year 2011 shows that Nepal experi-

enced the maximum number of events followed

by India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghani-

stan and Bhutan (Table 9.2 and Figure 9.2)

Afghanistan

In an incident on February 20, three people were

killed when a landslide struck Taghab Best village

in the northwestern province of Badghis. The fa-

talities were a result of shooting rock that fell on

the roof of the three ill-fated people including a

woman and a child. Some of the villagers had an-

ticipated an impending landslide and could es-

cape to safer locations1. Two people were injured

in the incident.

In another incident more than 100 houses

were damaged in a landslide in northern Balkh

province on April 6, with residents fleeing homes

in panic2.

Bangladesh

On March 29, two day labourers were killed and

five others were injured when a huge block of

soil fell over them in village Dairgaon under Ga-

fargaon upazila of Mymensingh3.

A protection wall constructed to prevent

landslides failed in the Batali Hill area in Chit-

tagong district and killed 17 people. According

to an investigating committee formed after the

fatal landslide, a huge quantity of earth piled to

support the outer face of the two-layer wall was

found removed, which might have contributed

to the collapse. The protection wall was 360 me-

ter long and nearly 60 meter long portion of the

wall had collapsed and caused the incident3.

On August 9, a portion of a hill collapsed on a

house amid heavy downpour in Ramjadi in Ban-

darban. The incident took toll of a mother and an

infant who were present in the house at the time

of the landslide. The landslide blocked the road

for some time, halting traffic movement between

Bandarban sadar and Roangchhari3. On August

14, a landslide struck in the early morning hours

in the Pahartali in Chittagong division, killing

two people. Big chunks of earth fell on a six room

shanty located at the base of Tanki pahar or Balur

pahar burying the sleeping people (Figure 9.3).

The incident may have been triggered by under-

cutting of the base of the already critical slope of

the hill3.

Figure 9.3:Location of the landslide at Pahartali at Chittagong and the members of the grieving family

(Source :Daily Star/ Anurup Kanti Das).

Figure 9.4:Location of the landslide at Gomchu, Khaling (Source: Kuensel)

| 96 |

Introduction

In another incident a construction worker

was killed and another injured when big chunks

of earth came crashing down on some work-

ers building a retaining wall at the base of a hill

called Dhanmiah pahar in Rangamati. The inci-

dent occurred on October 23 evening3. A stone

quarry worker was killed in a mudslide when a

mass of mud rolled down the slope on Decem-

ber 7 in Bijbarua Bonpur village near Utma bor-

der in Companyganj upazila. The deceased was

collecting stone from a hole from a stone quarry

when the incident occurred4.

Bhutan

A 45-year-old bulldozer operator died on May 23,

after he was buried under a massive mudslide

and boulders at Gomchu, Khaling in Trashigang.

Gomchu is about 5km from Khaling to Trashi-

gang. The bulldozer operator from Uttaranchal,

India, was clearing the road, following a major

block caused by the heavy rains on May 22. The

accident occurred around 11a.m., according to

the officer-in-charge, when some 20m long and

10m high mud from the hill above slid down and

covered the dozer. The incident occurred so fast

that there was very little time to react5.

India

On April 24, five members of a family were bur-

ied alive when a mass of rubble came down the

slope following an excavation operation in an

adjacent area. The incident occurred in Paharpani

area of Dhari block in Nainital and it took some

hours before the bodies of thetrapped could be

brought out6. Sixteen people were reported to

have been killed in landslides caused by heavy

rain in west Sikkim in the north eastern part of

India on June 23. The landslides, which occurred

around tourism hot spots in Sikkim, had dam-

aged roads and destroyed at least four houses.

Among the victims were 11 members of a fam-

ily. The district had witnessed non-stop rain for

three days. On the fateful night, sensing danger,

some locals and a group of daily wage labour-

ers who were staying as tenants at a place 10

km from district headquarters took shelter in a

two-storied wooden house. But the house was

washed away and 14 persons died7. Heavy rains

in the monsoon months caused several incidenc-

es of landslides in the northern hill states of India

and on July 27, five people lost their lives in sepa-

rate landslide incidents in the hill state of Uttara-

khand6. Six more people perished in landslides

in Dhur village in Chamoli district of Himachal

Pradesh on September 108.

Nepal

On July 4, six members from a single family were

killed when a landslide swept away their house

at Thumki-7 of Kaksi district in the morning. Two

days later on July 6, a woman dies and her hus-

band was injured when their house was buried in

landslide debris in Dumre, Bandipur-4. The land-

slide was triggered by incessant rains9.

In one of the major landslide events of Nepal

in the year 2011, 13 people died when a landslide

buried two houses at Githakot and Basandanda

of Purtimakada VDC-1 and 3 on early morning

hours of July 1410. The dead included several

children. A mother and her daughter died in a

landslide that swept away their house at Rato-

mata of Kaski district at very early morning hours

of July 199. The incidents of rain induced land-

slides in the month of monsoon and on August 3,

three siblings lost their lives at Tewang VDC-1 in

Rolpa district. The house was buried and all the

three children lost their lives while their parents

sustained serious injuries in the incident11. On

Landslide


| 97 |

August 13, five people belonging to two families

died due to a landslide in Chaurikharka-6 of So-

lukhumbu district while one person could be res-

cued from the debris9. Seven persons including a

minor lost their lives after a landslide at Hukam

VDC-7 in Rukum buried them on September 5.

The landslide swept them away while they were

on the way to water mill being operated nearby

Kacharjung rivulet. The slide swept them away

along with the mill10, 11,12. In another incident that

took place in the night of September 14, one per-

son was killed and two others were injured when

a landslide triggered by torrential rain truck Bu-

dakot-2 of Acham district10. Seven people died

and 18 others were injured in landslides in Mijh-

ing-1, Ruining of Rolpa district early morning of

September 16 (Figure 9.5). Three concrete houses

and a few others located at the base of a barren

hill were swept away in this landslide12. The inci-

dents of heavy rainfall triggered landslide con-

tinued in the month of September and three per-

sons of a family were killed and another injured

when their house was swept away by a landslide

in Rasnalu VDC in Ramechhap district on Septem-

ber 17. The house they were living in could not

withstand the impact of the landslide and col-

lapsed. Five more persons were killed and 14 oth-

ers were injured on September 22 after a land-

slide hit farmers while they were working on an

irrigation canal at Saghukhola, Resh-3, Baglung.

The deceased were women working in the field

when the landslide descended upon them10. Two

separate landslides on October 14-15 killed four

people in Rukum and Bhedawakhol10, 13.

Figure 9.5:Location of landslide at Rolpa (Source: Republica News).

Pakistan

Two Chinese engineers were killed due to land-

slide in Muslim Bagh on February 13. They were

engaged in drilling near a chromite mine and

died due to landslide. A security guard was also

injured in the incident14. Intermittent rains ac-

companied with hailstorms caused landslide in

Harnai in which a teenage boy was killed and

two others were injured. The road link between

Ziarat and Quetta was also disrupted following

| 98 |

Introduction

the landslide14. Five female workers died and

three others got injured due to landslide in Kah-

ror Pakka area of Lodhran on October 9. Accord-

ing to the rescue sources, the female workers got

trapped under the sand rubble while taking part

in an underground construction15.

Sri Lanka

Landslides and earth slips claimed three lives

including a child and injured many more in Sri

Lanka's hill country of Kandy on January 6. In the

first incident a nine-year-old girl was buried un-

der an earth slip in the Thalathuoya area of Kan-

dy district while in another incident on the same

day; two more people were killed and 15 others

sustained injury when an earth slip in the area of

2nd Rajasingha Mawatha in Kandy. Several hous-

es were also destroyed in the incidents16. More

people died under a collapsed earth mound in

Getambe village. Sources from Sri Lanka's hill

capital Kandy says that rescue operations are un-

derway to save the lives of several people that

are buried under a collapsed earth mound in Ge-

tambe village. At least 20 people were reported

to have been killed when the earth mass crushed

five houses under it16. On February 1, a woman

was buried alive after a mound of earth from

a hill came down and razed her house to the

ground at about 9 p.m. in Badulla. The victim and

her husband were in the house when the mound

of earth fell from a height of about 75 feet17.

References:1. Daily Outlook

2. Pajhwok News Agency

3. Daily Star

4. The Independent

5. Kuensel

6. www. newsonair.com

7. The Hindustan Times

8. Zee News

9. Kantipur News

10. The Himlayan Times

11. The Kathmandu Post

12. Republica News

13. Nepal News

14. Daily Times

15. The News

16. Colombo Page

17. Daily Mirror

Landslide


| 99 |

An OverviewEpidemics are a major problem in most parts of

the SAARC region. An epidemic occurs when

new cases of a certain disease, in a given human

population, and during a given period, substan-

tially exceed what is expected based on recent

experiences. The main causes for occurrence of

epidemics are lack of clean and hygienic drinking

water, lack of awareness about sanitation, con-

tamination of drinking water sources, eating rot-

ten and unhygienic food, poor living conditions,

poor economic conditions (lack of sufficient

funds to provide medical infrastructure facilities

etc to control epidemics), overcrowding, biologi-

cal conditions and ecological factors. Epidemics

include Viral Infectious Diseases and Bacterial In-

fectious Diseases. An epidemic may be restricted

to one location, however if it spreads to other

countries or continents and affects a substantial

number of people, it may be termed a pandemic.

Many epidemics will have characteristics of both

common source and propagated outbreaks. For

example, secondary person-to-person spread

may occur after a common source exposure.

The declaration of an epidemic usually requires

a good understanding of a baseline rate of in-

cidence. Epidemics for certain diseases, such as

influenza, are defined as reaching some defined

increase in incidence above this baseline. Since

SAARC region consists of predominantly poor

population with little medical infrastructure facil-

ities, control and prevention of occurrence of epi-

demics is a major problem in the region. Contam-

ination of water is the largest cause of epidemic

diseases in South Asia. During the year 2011, the

SAARC region witnessed a large number of ca-

sualties due to epidemics. Around 1494 people

were killed due to various epidemic situations

during the year 2011. It is to be mentioned here

that the global data base (EMDAT) records only

major events. According to this data, there are

higher number of casualties this year mainly due

to diarrhoea in India and dengue in Pakistan and

Sri Lanka. Details of these cases are given in Ap-

pendix. Figure 10.1 below indicates the number

Chapter 10

Epidemics

Figure 10.1: A diagram showing the number of deaths due to Epidemics in each of the SAARC Member Countries during the year 2011

(Source: EM-DAT)

of people killed due to Epidemics in each of the

SAARC Member Countries during the year 2011.

The total number of casualties occurred due to

Epidemics in the entire SAARC region consisting

of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mal-

dives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the

| 100 |

IntroductionEpidemics

years from 2007 to 2011 are illustrated in Figure

10.2 below.

Figure 10.2: Total number of deaths due to Epidemics in the SAARC region from 2007 to 2011 (Source: EM-DAT)

The country wise description of the major epi-

demic cases in each of the SAARC member Coun-

tries is discussed below:

Afghanistan

Respiratory Diseases

During the year 2011, the people of Afghani-

stan experienced major threats causing respi-

ratory diseases due to air pollution and poor

environment. The pollutants emitted by old

cars, poor quality fuel and people burning trash

increased the levels of pollution. In many areas,

people used masks during work. According to

the National Environment Protection Agency,

around 3000 people died every year due to air

pollution in Afghanistan. The health Ministry

of Afghanistan estimated that about 480,000

people have suffered from respiratory disease

over six years. Afghan people may face a health

disaster in the near future1. Over the last three

months, 2.4 million people were treated for re-

spiratory system disorders . In the capital city of

Kabul alone, more than 228,000 people suffered

from respiratory diseases alone due to wind

and dust in air causing more respiratory prob-

lems2.

PolioThe year 2011 witnessed fewer incidences of po-

lio cases in Afghanistan. During this year, there

was a dramatic change in polio cases in com-

parison to last year. Only 13 cases of polio were

recorded in Helmand, Kandahar and Farah Prov-

ince in Afghanistan during the year20113. This is

mainly due to the polio eradication efforts and

immunization programmes taken up by the Gov-

ernment of Afghanistan, the World Health Or-

ganization (WHO), the United Nations Children

Fund (UNICEF), and other partners, which have

invested heavily in improving routine immuni-

zation coverage in the country. Fig:10.3 shows a

Polio immunization camp organized by the Min-

istry of Public Health in Helmand, Kandahar and

Farah Provinces in Afghanistan2.

Figure-10.3: Polio immunization in Helmand, Kandahar and Farah Province in Afghanistan during the year2011

(Source: The Daily Outlook, Kabul)

CholeraLack of awareness, lack of access to safe drinking

water and sanitation as well as poor awareness

about personal hygiene are the major causes of

cholera. On 28 July 2011, four children died due

to cholera in Chapa Dara district of eastern Kunar

province of Afghanistan. According to the Minis-

try of Public Health (MoPH), the outbreak of chol-

era also spread out in Bodgah, Watala, Qala and

Gul Salak areas of the district3. About 136 people


| 101 |

were also infected by cholera in the district. The

existing medical infrastructure is not enough to

control the disease because the number of in-

fected people is high. However, the district health

department took several initiatives to provide

immediate medical care to people but the con-

secutive rain and flood increased symptom of

diseases. Government medical teams were de-

ployed in all the affected areas to control the dis-

ease.

DiarrhoeaFour people died from acute watery diarrhea in

the Mizan district of southern Kabul province of

Afghanistan on 4 September, 2011. The out brake

of the epidemic occurred during the Id-ul-fitr fes-

tival during September, 2011and infected dozens

of people in the province. The acute diarrheal in-

fection was caused by ingestion of bacteria. The

provincial health department of the Government

of Afghanistan took immediate initiatives and

appropriate measures to prevent further fatali-

ties3. Four people died of diarrhea in Giro district

of Ghazni province on 26th September 2011. The

epidemic was also spread in several villages of

the district affecting people of all ages. However,

the local health officials provided timely medical

assistance to all the affected people.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is one of the most epidemic prone

countries in South Asia. About 35% to 40% of

the people in Bangladesh suffer from various

diseases each year due to its vulnerability to epi-

demiological diseases and very high population

density. The large number of vehicles and their

high emissions are the main cause to lead high

concentration of pollution in the air that results

in 4.5 million new cases of chronic bronchitis

each year in Bangladesh . In the year 2011, the

country witnessed wide spread outbreak of dis-

eases like diarrhea, chicken pox, anthrax, measles

and dengue which infected people in different

parts of the country due to poor health facilities.

The waterborne diseases cholera and diarrhea up

surged alarmingly in the country during the year

2011. According to International Centre for Diar-

rheal Disease Research (ICDDR), Bangladesh, the

diarrhea cases raised due to higher temperatures

and poor access to safe drinking water and sani-

tation facilities. The World Health Organization

(WHO) estimated that nearly 51,000 children are

affected by diarrhea each year in Bangladesh.

Some of the most alarming epidemics that oc-

curred in Bangladesh in the year 2011 are de-

scribed below:-

DiarrhoeaAbout 11 people died due to outbreak of di-

arrhoea at five different villages in Matamuhuri

Reserved area in Alikadam upazila on 27 April,

2011. More than 300 tribal people of different

localities were also infected. The health depart-

ment immediately sent medical teams to the af-

fected areas to prevent the fatalities4. The num-

Fig-10.4: A Patient Receiving ORS treatment at the ICDDR,B (Source-IRIN )

| 102 |


ber of diarrhoea cases up surged due to higher

temperatures in the capital city of Dhaka in the

first week of August 2011. According to Interna-

tional Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research,

Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), 3,396 cases were report-

ed in the 1st week of August, 2011 which is 50%

more than last year. About 80% of all reported

cases included children5. Many patients received

treatment at the International Centre for Diar-

rhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh(Fig10.4).

DengueDengue is an infectious tropical viral fever

caused by dengue virus. The carrier of dengue

virus is Aides mosquito. The symptoms of den-

gue include fever, headache, muscle and joint

pains, and a characteristic skin rash similar to

measles. The disease develops into the life-

threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, result-

ing in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and

blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock

syndrome, where a dangerously low blood pres-

sure occurs. The number of dengue cases has

risen alarmingly in Bangladesh during the peri-

od 2007-2011 as shown in the Table 10.1 below:

2008, 188 cases in September 2009 and 183

cases in August 2010 while about 691 cases of

dengue reported in 2011. The number of deaths

since 2000 was put at 2337. The graph below

shows the month-wise details of dengue cases

in the period from 2007-2011 (Fig.10.5).

Year No of Dengue Cases

2007 183

2008 473

2009 188

2010 183

2011 691

Total 1718

Table- 10.1 :No of dengue cases reported (during2007-2011) in Bangladesh (Source:Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and

Research, Bangladesh)

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Con-

trol and Research, Bangladesh reported that

the peak of 183 dengue cases was recorded in

August 2007 while the peak of 473 cases in July

Figure-10.5 : A Graph showing Dengue cases in Dhaka ( Source: Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research,

Bangladesh)

Nipah encephalitis

In Bangladesh, Nipah virus (NiV) was first

identified as the cause of an outbreak of enceph-

alitis in 2001 in Meherpur district. In last 10 years,

Nipah outbreaks occurred eight times between

December and May each year. The Nipah out-

breaks have been identified in Noagoan (2003),

Rajbari (2004), Faridpur (2004), Tangail (2005),

Thakurgaon (2007) Kushtia (2007), Manikgonj

and Rajbari ( 2008), Faridpur ( 2010). Till January

Nipah Encephalitis

Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic paramyxo-virus and belongs to genus Henipavirus. Large fruit bats of Pteropus genus are the natural reservoir of NiV. Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection was first rec-ognized in a large outbreak of 276 reported cases in peninsular Malaysia and Singapore from September 1998 through May 1999. Most patients had contact with sick presented primarily with encephalitis.


| 103 |

31 2011 total of 152 human cases of Nipah infec-

tion in Bangladesh were recognized. Beginning

2006, The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Con-

trol and Research in collaboration with the Inter-

national Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research

(ICDDR), Bangladesh established Nipah surveil-

lance in 10 district level Government hospitals of

the country where Nipah outbreaks have been

identified. Presently surveillance system is func-

tioning in 6 hospitals. Through the surveillance

system 39 cases were identified. Outbreak inves-

tigations have identified two routes of transmis-

sion of Nipah virus from its natural reservoir into

human: drinking of raw date palm sap contami-

nated with Nipah virus and close physical contact

with Nipah infected case-patients8.

According to the Director of the Institute

of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research,

(IEDCR) Bangladesh, five people were infected

with the Nepah virus in Faridpur and Rajbari dis-

tricts and four of them died on 23 January 20116.

The death rate of victims of the Nipah virus is very

high and around 75 % of the infected people do

not survive. The IEDCR reported that a total of 152

people were infected with the Nipah virus across

the country since 2001, of whom 113 died .The

virologists advised people in the Nipah-preva-

lent areas not to eat fruits that have been bitten

by fruit bats, or drink the raw juices of palm and

date trees. About 35 deaths were reported due

to Nipah virus across the country between the

months of January –February 20119.

AnthraxAnthrax is an infectious disease that occurs

due to a type of bacteria called Bacillus anthra-

ces. Infection in humans most often involves

the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or lungs. Anthrax

commonly affects hoofed animals such as sheep,

cattle, and goats, but humans who come into

contact with infected animals can get sick from

anthrax, too. The people who were most at risk

for anthrax included farm workers, veterinarians,

and tannery and wool workers.

In the year 2011, a number of anthrax cases

were found in different part of the country. The

Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and

Research Bangladesh reported few cases of an-

thrax during the months of May to July. Every

year during the rainy season anthrax spreads

among the cattle in the country. On 14 May

2011, the local Health department confirmed

three cases of Anthrax in Santhia upazila9. In Raut

Nagdapara village in Faridpur Upazila, two more

people were infected with anthrax on 2 June,

2011. On 11 June 2011, Local health officials con-

firmed more than 15 anthrax cases in Sirajganj

and Pabna districts. The officials of the upazila

health and family planning visited the village

and confirmed the disease. They also provided

free treatment to all the infected patients10.

Chicken PoxChicken pox is a highly contagious disease

caused by primary infection with Varicella Zos-

ter Virus (VZV). It usually starts with vesicular

skin rash mainly on the body and head rather

than at the periphery and becomes itchy, raw

pockmarks, which mostly heal without scarring.

Chicken pox is an airborne disease spread easily

through coughing or sneezing of ill patients or

through direct contact with secretions from the

rash. The disease Chicken pox is very common in

Bangladesh which always infected the children.

MeaslesMeasles is a very contagious illness caused

by a virus. The infection is spread by contact with

| 104 |


droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of an

infected person. Sneezing and coughing by an

infected person can put contaminated droplets

into the air, which may affect the normal persons

who may come in to contact. In the year 2011,

32 children were infected with measles and out

of them 4 children died. The disease out broke in

lamma upazila. According to health department,

41 children in Alikadam, seven in Lama and five

in Ruma upazilas died and several hundreds af-

fected children in 22 remote villages received

treatment from the special medical teams 10.

Bhutan

In year 2011, there was no outbreak of epidemics

in Bhutan. Across the country, a few cases of H1N1

(Flu) was witnessed by the government health of-

ficials. After analysis of World Health Organization,

it was observed that no fatal diseases were spread

out across the country during the year. The Roy-

al Government of Bhutan took several initiatives

for providing good health to the people. On 9

April 2011, more than 50 Bhutanese received life

changing surgeries with initiatives of the govern-

ment and American doctors and volunteers. A

team of American doctors and volunteers Provid-

ed medical treatment for 125 Bhutanese suffering

from congenital defects in Paro11 .

Influenza A (H1N1)On 13th April 2011, 17 students of the Phy-

lum Higher Secondary School and Phylum lower

secondary school in Lhuentse were tested posi-

tive for Influenza A. The Lhuentse authorities

took several initiatives to prevent the flu from

spreading and ordered to close the Phylum High-

er Secondary School and Phylum lower second-

ary school for one week. On April 4, 29 students

from the Phuyum Higher Secondary School were

treated at the Lhuentse hospital for fever, head-

ache and throat pain (Fig:10.6(a) &(b)). There were

cases of cough and cold among the students of

the Lhuentse primary school, where three of the

10 students tested positive for the flu11.

Fig:10.6(a)&(b): Students of Phuyum Higher Secondary School recovering from the H1N1 virus (Source: Kuensel Newspaper)

India

India ranks among the top 10 countries in the

world burdened with highest mortality arising

from communicable diseases, especially tuber-

culosis, as well as high maternal mortality and

child mortality rate. Barring Afghanistan, India

is worst affected by what are often described as

NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) in South

Asia with around 38 % of premature deaths of

males and 32.1 % of premature deaths of females


| 105 |

below 60 years. Non-Communicable Diseases

estimated to account for 53 % of all deaths in In-

dia. The WHO report shows that the diseases like

cardiovascular, cancers, chronic respiratory, blood

pressure and diabetes are an offshoot of growing

affluence of the middle classes as well as worsen-

ing health conditions among the people below

the poverty line. Around 37 % of deaths in India

are caused due to communicable, maternal, pre-

natal and nutritional conditions. In sharp con-

trast, India’s neighbours such as China, Pakistan,

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are among other na-

tions having low proportion of premature deaths

due to NCDs12.

The description of communicable and non

communicable diseases in India during the year

2011 are discussed below:

MalariaMalaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused

by a parasite. People with malaria often experi-

ence fever, chills, and flu-like illness. On 10 Janu-

ary 2011, the city of Mumbai reeled under the

spell of malaria. The Bombay Municipal Corpora-

tion (BMC) statistics show that a total 4,391 peo-

ple were tested positive with malaria during this

year. There was a positivity rate of 3.07% malaria

cases during the month of January 13. In Tamil

Nadu, the number of malaria cases reported were

3,048. The key epidemic zones in the state of Tam-

il Nadu are :- Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Vellore,

and Tiruvallur districts14. The experts say that

fighting the malaria is a community initiative, in

which, every citizen should participate. In Chen-

nai city, malaria day was observed on 28 April

2011, in terms of fighting one of its most trouble-

some vectors - the mosquito. The thrust was on

providing awareness to the residents on ways of

preventing malarial infections. Though an infec-

tious disease, whether a person contracts malaria

or not, also depends substantially on how clean

the surrounding environments are. The focus in

the civic bodies should be to control breeding of

mosquitoes. The civic bodies should also focus on

spreading awareness among the residents about

how to control malaria.

The details of malaria preventive measures

are as follows:-

• Water should not be allowed to stagnate

within homes or offices.

• Old tyres, broken flower vases, buckets etc.

that collect water should be removed.

• It should be ensured that overhead tanks

and wells are closed.

• Sewage should not be let into storm water

drains.

• Call the corporation helpline for fogging in

case high density of mosquitoes was noticed.

DiarrheaIn Tamilnadu, sixty cases of Diarrhea were

reported in Thanjavur on 25 January 201113. The

water contamination was the main cause for the

outbreak of the disease. On 30 January 2011, an-

other incidence of the outbreaks of diarrhea in

Baselihata village of Narasinghapur block in Cut-

tack, Odisha, which affected many people was

reported. The consumption of contaminated wa-

ter was the cause of the outbreak of the disease

as the water pipelines in the area had broken14.

Sixteen people were also hospitalised because of

diarrhoea after consuming drinking water, which

was reportedly contaminated, in Tirusulam in

part of Tamilnadu on 30 March2011.

Avian Influenza (H5N1)Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was ob-

served during the year 2011 in Assam and West

| 106 |


Bengal states of India. According to health of-

ficials, some poultry on the government farm

were infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu14.

On 17 February 2011, about 4000 ducks and

chickens were culled from government run farm

by health workers in the northeastern state of

Tripura. Sixteen public health teams also began

slaughtering poultry within a distance of one

kilometer of the state-run farm in an attempt to

halt the spread of the virus. After the outbreak

of bird flu in a State-owned poultry at R. K. Nagar

Government duck farm in Agartala, Tripura, the

state government alerted the state poultry farms

and culled all the virus infected birds15(Fig.10.7).

On September 19, 2011, an outbreak of highly

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was reported

in West Bengal. The outbreak was detected in a

rural backyard poultry flock in the Nadia district

of West Bengal. On September 8, 2011, an out-

break of avian influenza (AI) was reported in rural

backyard poultry in a village of the northeastern

state of Assam where measures were taken to

ensure containment of the outbreak.

Figure 10.7: Indian health workers carry killed ducks to burry them at the R.K. Nagar Government Duck Farm in Agartala, India

(Source: Associated Press)

MeaslesMeasles is a highly contagious viral disease,

which affects mostly children. It is transmitted via

droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infect-

ed persons. Initial symptoms, which usually ap-

pear 10–12 days after infection, include high fe-

ver, running nose, bloodshot eyes, and tiny white

spots on the inside of the mouth. Several days

later, a rash develops, starting on the face and

upper neck and gradually spreading downwards.

In the year 2011, some cases of measles were

reported in Kutch district in Gujarat in India. Four

children died at the Rambagh hospital in Adipur

in Kutch district of Gujarat on 16 March, 2011.

The immediate action was taken to prevent fur-

ther spreading of the disease by the Gujarat state

government which also provided free oral vac-

cination to communities. The state government

has ordered to give assistance of Rs. one lakh

each to the bereaved families14.

Swine fluInfluenza – A (H1N1) (earlier know as swine

flu) is an influenza virus causing illness in people.

First detected in Mexico, it has spread to many

countries in the World. This was originally re-

ferred to as “swine flu” because laboratory test-

ing showed that many of the genes in this new

virus were very similar to those found in pigs in

North America. Swine Flu (H1N1) is a communi-

cable disease which spreads through sputum,

saliva, nasal discharge and sneezing of confirmed

infected persons. The main symptoms of the dis-

ease are headache, fever, soaring throat, trouble-

some breathing, cough and body ache, chill,

fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and severe

vomiting. The symptoms of swine flu in people

are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal

flu. Some people also report diarrhoea and

vomiting associated with influenza-A (H1N1).

Swine flu viruses are spread mainly from person

to person through droplets created while cough-


| 107 |

ing or sneezing by a person infected with the in-

fluenza-A (H1N1)31. In the year 2011, there were

no major swine flu threats across the country.

The southern states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

were devoid of swine flu during the year. How-

ever, during the past three pilgrimage seasons,

Sabarimala in Kerala was in the grip of swine flu.

On 24 March 2011, the deadly swine flu outbreak

was reported and it took the season's first fatal-

ity due to the disease. The maximum number of

eight cases of the disease were reported in Pun-

jab while Delhi and Rajasthan reported fatali-

ties of two and one respectively14. The preventive

measures taken by the Government include facil-

itating training to the health workers, inspectors

and volunteers, wide distribution of pamphlets

detailing the symptoms of the disease and the

precautionary measures to be taken, setting up

of call centres with a helpline number to provide

details of the health care facilities and tie up with

the cellular providers to provide health tips on

H1N1 under the National Rural Health Mission

(NRHM).

DengueIn the year 2011, more than 10,000 dengue

cases were reported across the country, with

Punjab topping the list with 2,016 cases. Pun-

jab was followed by 1,793 cases in Odisha, 1,398

in Tamil Nadu and 963 in Kerala and Delhi was

fifth on the list with 900 cases16. The Madurai-

based Centre for Research in Medical Entomol-

ogy (CRME) was mandated by the Government

of India to develop strong surveillance tools for

dengue and chikungunya and study on various

parameters to develop a technology for control

of diseases and prepare a scientific roadmap

for control and prevention of these two vector-

borne diseases14.

Maldives

Dengue

In the year 2011, the outbreak of Dengue was

reported in some parts of the Islands. According

to the Maldives Health Ministry, 2,421 cases were

reported by August end with 11 fatalities record-

ed. The incidence of dengue cases was increased

by 60% in the islands during the year 2011 when

compared to last year . About 280 dengue cases

was reported in the month of April, 2011 alone18 .

Dengue is the most common in atolls like Lhavi-

yani, Alif Alif, Alif dhaal, and Thaa.

In July 2011, 129 islanders struck with den-

gue fever in Gaaf Alif Villigili. The “Villigili Dengue

Task Force’ conducted a door-to-door awareness

raising programme together with programmes

to clean the island and spray fog to eradicate

mosquito breeding grounds. The heavy rains in

all parts of the Maldives during the monsoon

period also increased the chances for mosquito

breeding, leading to an outbreak of dengue. The

health ministry took various initatives to control

disease immediately and provide medical treat-

ment to the victims19 .

Nepal

In the year 2011, the outbreaks of disease

like Diarrhea, pneumonia were reported in some

parts of the country. However, there were no fatal

diseases causing mass causalities during the year.

The diseases spread out during the year across

the country are discussed below:-

DiarrheaThe common symptoms of diarrhea disease

were fever, stomach ache, dizziness and vomit-

ing22.In Juna BK (22) of Dahakot-3 in Bajura dis-

trict of Nepal, one person died on 4 May 2011

due to diarrhea. The number of diarrhrea, chol-

| 108 |


era and common cold surged during this year.

One person died due to diarrhea in jugada-6

in bajura district on 11 May 2011. A women lost

her life due to diarrhea in Rukum district on 29th

May 201120. Due to the outbreak of diarrhea in

Palpa district, three persons lost their lives and 50

others were taken ill in the month of July 2011.

Most of the diarrhea patients took treatment at

various private hospitals and clinics. On 23 July

2011, diarrhea claimed the lives of three children

at Bajaha of Bishala VDC-1 of Dailekh district21. In

Padi and Doyal of Sirdibas VDC of Gorkha district,

three lives were lost due to diarrhea and six peo-

ple were also badly affected by the disease on

5 August 2011. On 12 July 2010, in Saptai, three

persons died and two dozen people became ill

due to a mysterious virus disease.

Japanese Encephalitis (JE)Japanese encephalitis is a viral disease that

infects animals and humans. It is transmitted by

mosquitoes and in humans, it causes inflamma-

tion of the membranes around the brain. Patients

show symptoms such as fever, lethargy, hardness

in neck and legs, dizziness, vomiting, and loss

of consciousness, among others. The disease is

caused by Japanese B Encephalitis virus trans-

mitted by culex mosquito. In the year 2011, forty-

nine people were affected from this disease. On 2

September 2011, five people lost their lives from

this disease in Seti Zonal hospital in Nepall23.

Pakistan

During the year 2011, outbreaks of Epidemics

were reported across Pakistan, causing more fa-

talities. The diseases like diarrhea, cholera and

swine flu were noticed throughout the year in

Pakistan. Flooding in many parts of the country

also increased the frequency of these diseases

and increased the number of cases of swine flu

that was reported in different parts of the coun-

try. The major disease outbreaks occurred during

this year are discussed below:-

GastroenteritisIn the year 2011, the diseases of gastroenteri-

tis affected the various communities across the

country. The disease struck in the flood affected

areas of Faridabad, Khuzdar, Miramshah, Dir,

Badin, and Shangla. On 21 May 2011, one child

died due to gastroenteritis and 20 children were

severely affected in flood affected area of Farid-

abad. The gastroenteritis was common among

children living in areas with poor water and sani-

tation services25.Due to gastroenteritis three peo-

ple died and dozens of children were suffered in

Khudar district on 14 June 2011.

DiarrheaDuring first week of July 2011, four persons

died from diarrhea in Murree. About 60 to 70

patients suffering from the epidemic got timely

medicare in the Head Quarters Hospitalat Mur-

ree. Though people faced problems due to severe

shortage of life saving medicines in basic health

units in different areas, the problem was solved

with the timely intervention of the health author-

ities. The use of contaminated water was the main

reason for the disease outbreak25. In August 2011,

two people died and hundreds of people suf-

fered due to Cholera in Khorabad near Rasshaki

in Nowshera District. The cholera had spread in

the area due to water contamination26.

DengueAccording to the latest World Health Or-

ganization (WHO) statistics, there were 21,590

confirmed dengue virus cases and 317 deaths

reported in 2011 in Pakistan. About 257 deaths


| 109 |

were reported in Lahore province alone and

60 deaths were reported in other parts of the

country12. World Health Organization also pro-

vided technical assistance, standard guidelines

and capacity building in planning and imple-

mentation in all areas for prevention and con-

trol of dengue fever. All the people affected

by dengue fever received treatment in vari-

ous hospitals in Lahore (Fig:10.8) and health

workers took several measures including

spraying to control the menace of mosquitoes

(Fig:10.9) .

Figure -10.8: Dengue fever affected people receiving treatment at a Lahore hospital (Source: The Frontier Post)Figure -10.9: Health workers spraying to control the menace of mosquitoes in Lahore(Source: The Frontier Post)

Sri Lanka

In the year 2011, no major epidemic outbreaks

occurred in Sri Lanka but a few cases of epidem-

ics such as dengue, cholera and rat fever were re-

ported. The details of epidemic outbreaks during

this year in Sri Lanka are described below:-

DiarrheaIn the year 2011, about 32 dengue related

deaths were reported in the first four months it

self. A total number of 3,784 diarrhea confirmed

patients were reported by the government

health department across the country. According

to epidemiology unit of the Health Ministry, 907

patients were reported in January, 1,050 in Feb-

ruary, 1,111 in March and 716 in April. The high-

est number of cases was reported from the Co-

lombo district, with 1,273 patients and 12 deaths

during the period28. On 18 June 2011, a total

number of 11,901 cases were confirmed while

93 deaths were recorded in the Health Ministry’s

Epidemiology Unit. Among them, 1,497 den-

gue patients were reported from Colombo. The

number of dengue deaths reported from the

Colombo district were 52. Gampaha district was

the second worst affected by dengue with 776

cases and 15 deaths. A total of 20 persons died

from Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) within

the Columbo Municpal Corporation area during

the period. Other parts of the Colombo district

reported a total of 32 deaths. Gampaha district

recorded a total of 17 dengue deaths during the

same period while Batticaloa district recorded a

total of nine deaths. The total number of deaths

reported from Kalutara district is six. Another six

dengue cases were also reported from the Put-

talam district. The Health Ministry’s Epidemiology

Unit statistics reported that 15,614 dengue cases

were reported from all parts of the country while

120 dengue related deaths were confirmed. The

| 110 |


Colombo district recorded 4,093 dengue cases.

Gampaha, Kalutara and Batticaloa districts re-

corded 2340, 836 and 671 dengue cases respec-

tively while Ratnapura and Kurunegala districts

recorded 609 dengue cases each during this pe-

riod.

Rat feverAccording to the Epidemiology Unit of the

Health Ministry, leptospirosis, a fast spreading

fever (commonly known as rat fever) killed five

farmers in Anuradhapura. Around 25 paddy

farmers suffered from this disease and five of

them died. Around 2840 rat fever patients were

reported from all parts of the country during the

year 2011. The total number of deaths reported

was 60. The highest number of 11deaths were

reported from Gampaha district and 10 deaths

were reported from Kurunegala district. Most of

the victims were farmers. Seven deaths were re-

ported from Hambantota district. Four deaths

each were reported from Matara and Kurunegala

districts respectively29. Three deaths each were

also reported from the Gampaha and Anurad-

hapura districts respectively. The highest num-

ber of patients, 1039 were reported from the

Kurunegala district. The number of patients re-

ported from the Gampaha district was 244. The

number of patients reported from Hambantota

district was 212. In the country, March 2011 re-

corded the highest number of 1576 of rat fever

patients30.

Reference 1. Afghan Online Press, Kabul

2. The Daily Outlook, Kabul

3. PAN (Pajhwok Afghan News)

4. The New Nation

5. IRIN, Dhaka

6. New Age, UNB, Dhaka

7. The Independent

8. Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Re-

search (IEDCR), Bangladesh

9. The Daily Star

10. The New Nation

11. Kuensel Newspaper

12. WHO (World health Organization)

13. The Times of India

14. The Hindu

15. Associated Press

16. Sify News

17. DD News

18. Haveeru News

19. Maldivian News

20. The Himalayan Times,

21. Kantipur News

22. Nepal News

23. Republica News

24. Daily Times

25. Dawn News,

26. The Frontier Post

27. The Express Tribune, Lahore

28. Daily Mirror,

29. Daily News

30. The Island


| 111 |

Chapter 11

An OverviewMan-made disasters can be broken down into

several categories and they include bomb blasts,

air strikes, mine blasts, militant strikes, terrorist at-

tacks, technological disasters, industrial disasters,

stampedes, and transportation hazards like road

and rail/ train accidents, airplane accidents, boat

capsizes, etc., among others. There are certain

types of man-made disasters that cause more

pronounced damage can be easily prevented

when compared to others. A good example is to

look at manmade disasters such as transportation

disasters. These are divided into different catego-

ries which include aviation, rail, road, water etc.

These are all preventable hazards. Often these

are as a result of neglect or ignorance and over

the years, they have claimed several lives. An-

other type of manmade disaster that killed many

people in the SAARC region is bomb blasts. These

bomb blasts are often as a result of bad intent

and the end results were catastrophic with a large

percentage of those involved losing their lives

or end up with major defects or long term inju-

ries. Other types of manmade disasters include

industrial accidents, chemical spill, oil spill, arson

and terrorism. There were also some technologi-

cal hazards which include power outages, nuclear,

chemical and radiological accidents, building/

structural collapse and fire accidents. The causes

behind many of these man-made disasters are

complicated in nature and are governed by socio-

economic, political and technological factors and

many times, combination of these. In the South

Asian region, these manmade disasters continue

Man-Made Disasters

to account for very high number of casualties.

In 2011, a large number of people were killed

on account of man-made disasters in the coun-

tries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangla-

desh. These events are often witnessed in scat-

tered distribution and sometimes not properly

reported. The following Figure gives the details

of the total number of people killed on account

of man-made disasters in the SAARC region dur-

ing the period 2007-2011 (Fig.11.1). Table 11.1

below indicates the number of people killed due

to industrial accidents, miscellaneous accidents

and transport accidents) in South Asia during

the period 2007 to 2011 whereas Fig. 11.2 shows

the percentage of the number of people killed

due to these disasters in the region during 2011.

Some of the important man-made disasters wit-

nessed in the SAARC member countries during

2011 are discussed below country wise and the

individual events are listed in Appendix-VIII.

Fig.11.1 : Total number of people killed in man-made disasters during 2007 to 2011 in the SAARC Region (Source: EMDAT)

| 112 |

IntroductionMan-made Disasters

Total number of people killed in man-made disasters in South Asia during 2007 to 2011

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Industrial Accidents -- 17 97 -- 43

Miscellaneous Accidents 164 411 128 308 468

Transport Accidents 508 477 459 897 1190

Total 672 905 684 1205 1701

Table 11.1 : Number of people killed due to man-made disasters in South Asia during 2007 to 2011 (Source: EMDAT)

Fig. 11.2: A diagram showing the % of lives lost due to man-made disasters in the SAARC region during 2011 (Source: EMDAT)

Afghanistan

Bomb blasts/Violence

At least 20 persons were killed and 21 others

were severely injured in an operation carried out

by Afghan and foreign forces in eastern Nangar-

har province (Fig11.3) on January 2, 20111. The

operation was launched in Shirzad district of

Nangarhar province to wipe out insurgents from

the area. The militants suffered heavy casualties

in the operation.

Fig 11.3: Eastern Nangarhar province in Afghanistan (Source: Tolo News)

A Taliban commander was also killed in

clashes with Afghan and foreign troops in the

operation. Shirzad district, bordering Pakistan, is

one of the volatile areas where Taliban militants

were active.

A suicide bomber detonated explosives

strapped to his chest at a public bathhouse in

Kandahar on January 7, 2011, killing 17 people,

including a border police patrol officer2. Another

23 persons, including three policemen, were seri-

ously injured in the blast that occurred in Wesh

town of Spin Boldak district on the Pakistani bor-

der. The blast reflected the continuing instability

in the south region, where NATO has bolstered

its forces, but the insurgents were able to stand

their ground there while expanding their opera-

tions to other parts of Afghanistan once consid-

ered relatively safe. In another operation, a se-

nior Taliban leader and 14 other militants were

killed on January 8, 2011 in an Afghan-NATO op-

eration targeting the militants in north Afghani-

stan3. In another incident, at least seven civilians

were killed in a roadside bomb blast in Afghani-

stan's southern province of Zabul on January 14,

20114. All the victims were taxi drivers. In another

similar incident, nine people including six chil-

dren were killed in a terrorist explosion in the

northern Baghlan Province on January 16, 2011.

Six people died in another bomb attack in the

southern Helmand Province and three others

were killed by another explosion in Oruzgan on

the same day4. In a similar incident, a roadside


| 113 |

bomb claimed the lives of at least 20 civilians, in-

cluding women and children, in eastern Afghani-

stan, on January 19, 2011. The incident took place

in Khoshamad district of eastern Paktika prov-

ince, when a three-wheeled vehicle packed with

civilian passengers struck the roadside bomb,

killing 20 civilians, including 13 children and six

women, and wounding several others.

A suicide car bombing killed at least nine

people and injured 31 others in a busy bazaar

in southeastern Khost province on February 18,

2011. The attack in Khost City, the provincial capi-

tal, targeted a police post. The dead included six

civilians and a policeman manning the post. The

blast damaged various nearby houses, buildings

and shops. Eighteen people were killed and more

than 70 others were wounded in an armed attack

on a bank in Jalalabad in Afghanistan's Nangar-

har Province on February 18, 2011. The attackers

dressed like border police from their uniforms

and used guns and grenades to carry out the at-

tack on a branch of Kabul Bank4. Kabul Bank is Af-

ghanistan's top private lender, which distributes

salaries to the Afghan police and armed forces.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

A roadside bomb ripped through a car in

eastern Afghanistan on March 4, 2011, killed 12

civilians and caused injuries to several other peo-

ple6. The Taliban-style home-made device struck

the car in the province of Paktika, killing five chil-

dren, two women and five men.

At least 35 people were killed and 42 others

were injured following a bomb attack on an army

recruitment center in the Kunduz city at northern

Afghanistan on March 14, 20114. Most of the vic-

tims were civilians, but three policemen and four

children have also lost their lives in the incident.

In another incident, three suicide bomb-

ers detonated a truck full of explosives in the

compound of a road construction company in

southeastern Paktia province, killing 23 people

and injuring another 60, on March 28, 20117. The

attackers shot dead the guard of the Zahir Road

Construction Company in Nawi Hada area of

Barmal district and then detonated their truck

bomb. All the 23 killed on the spot were the com-

pany’s employees. The building of the construc-

tion company was completely destroyed. All the

victims were guards and workers of the company.

Ten guards of a private security company

(Watan Risk Security Company) were killed during

an air strike by international soldiers in the south-

ern province of Ghazni in the Pul Mati area of Gilan

district on May 3, 2011. The guards were bombed

when they were escorting a logistic convoy.

Armed Taliban insurgents attacked another

Fig 11.4 (a) & (b): Snaps depicting bomb victims being carried to hospitals in Afghanistan

| 114 |


private construction company office in south-

eastern Paktia province on May 19, 2011 killing 36

people, including labourers, security guards and

engineers8. On the same day, at least ten people

were killed and several others were wounded in

an explosion in a market place in Konduz Prov-

ince in the northern Afghanistan9. A police officer

was among those killed in the blast. At least 24

others were injured. All the victims were admit-

ted in different hospitals (Figs: 11.4(a) & (b)). In an-

other suicide attack targeting a hospital in Logar

province on June 25, 2011 resulted in killing of 38

persons and severely injuring 50 others10. The at-

tack occurred around 11:20 am on June 25, 2011

when a car loaded with explosives was driven

into the Azrah district's central hospital. Three

women and two children were among the dead,

as were five health workers and a midwife.

The death toll from a Taliban attack on 28th

June, 2011 in a luxury hotel, frequented by for-

eigners and government officials, in Afghanistan

reached to 21, including 10 civilians, nine attack-

ers and two policemen who died on the spot and

several others were injured after Taliban militants

stormed the Intercontinental Hotel in the capital

city of Kabul late on June 28, 2011 (Fig:11.5). Two

foreign nationals were also among the dead. Po-

lice cordoned off the entire area and all streets

leading to the hotel were blocked.

In another incident, a landmine explosion

struck a bus in Afghanistan, killing at least 20 ci-

vilians, including women and children on June

30, 201111. The incident happened in the remote

southwestern province of Nimroz. The blast took

place in the region's Khash Rod district on the

main highway linking Nimroz to Kandahar. In

another incident, a passenger bus in southern Af-

ghanistan struck a land mine on July 2, 2011, kill-

ing at least 18 civilians. About 30 people, includ-

ing women and children, were severely injured.

A roadside bomb has ripped through a van,

killing 13 civilians, including two children and

four women on July 2, 2011 in Zabul province in

southern Afghanistan, when their vehicle struck

the device12. Roadside bombs, planted by mili-

tants who have been waging an insurgency

against foreign forces for nearly 10 years, are a

frequent cause of casualties among civilians in

Afghanistan.

In another incident, seven policemen were

killed in an attack on their check-post near

Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand

province, on July 18, 201113. On the same day, 10

militants were shot dead and as many wounded

during a firefight with Afghan and foreign forces

in the Giro district of Ghazni province. The police-

men manning a checkpoint on the Helmand-

Kandahar highway were killed by unidentified

assailants.

Again, on July 29, 2011, two separate power-

ful bomb explosions killed at least 23 civilians

and wounded several others in the southern Af-

ghanistan, in the province of Helmand. The civil-

ians lost their lives after a passenger minibus and

a tractor separately struck explosives near the

city of Lashkar Gah. Women and children were

Fig 11.5: Smoke coming from the Intercontinental hotel during a battle between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants in Kabul,

Afghanistan (Source: Press TV)


| 115 |

among the victims. Taliban militants attacked

the security forces when they arrived at the

scene of the explosion that hit the minibus.

At least seven civilians were killed and several

others injured in a market explosion in Afghani-

stan's southern province of Uruzgan on August 16,

2011. A motorcycle bomb went off in a market in

Dihrawud while people were shopping. In a simi-

lar incident, a bomb explosion has killed at least 20

people and wounded 12 others in the western Af-

ghan province of Herat, on August 18, 20114.

Sixteen people were killed and four others

injured in a road side bombing in the Shindand

district of western Herat province on Septem-

ber 27, 201114. On the same day the explosion

in Shindand occurred around noon, when a van

struck the bomb in the Chahak village of the dis-

trict, five kilometres from a police checkpoint.

Eleven children, four women and a driver were

among the dead.

Nine Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers

were killed and four others injured following a

roadside bombing in southeastern Paktia prov-

ince, on October 2, 201115. The incident took

place in the Sahak area of Zurmat district. The

ANA soldiers were searching for roadside bombs

planted beneath culverts in the area when the

explosion occurred.

At least 10 people were killed and more than

42 others were wounded in two back-to-back

oil tanker explosions (Fig: 11.6) near the main

US military base in central Parwan province, on

October 26, 201115. A magnet bomb, attached

to a fuel tanker, went off on the road leading to

the Bagram Airfield. As residents gathered to

collect fuel from the tanker, a second explosion

shook the area, killing 10 civilians and injuring 42

others.

Nineteen civilians were killed by a roadside

bomb in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand prov-

ince on December 7, 2011, taking the death toll

from just 24 hours of bloodshed to 78, that came

as funerals took place for 59 people killed in un-

precedented bomb attacks on Ashura gatherings

in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif a day earlier16.

Twenty civilians were injured when a po-

lice vehicle was attacked with a hand-grenade

in southwestern Khost province on December

18, 201117. The explosion took place at around

9:15am in a busy square Sargardan Chawk area,

of Khost City where an unknown man threw

a hand grenade. The victims were provided

treatment in various hospitals in Khost City

(Fig: 11.7).

Fig 11.6 : Two back-to-back oil tanker explosions in central Parwan province,Afghanistan on 26th October, 2011,where 10 people were

killed and more than 42 were wounded (Source: Pajhwok Afghan News)

Fig 11.7: A grenade attack victim receiving treatment in Khost city in Afghanistan (Source: Pajhwok Afghan News)

| 116 |


Fire

As many as 936 incidents of fire that occurred

during 2011 caused property losses amounting

to more than 300 million Afghanis (US$ 6.1 mil-

lion), as per the Kabul fire brigade department.

Nearly 238 fire incidents happened in the capital

alone, with the rest taking place in several prov-

inces in the country. On 16 January, 2011, a fire-

wood stall blaze caused a huge loss amounting

to millions of Afghanis in the eastern province

of Nangarhar18. The stall was gutted in minutes

as the fire erupted on the early hours of January

16, 2011in the 3 police district near the old Kabul

bus stand in Jalalabad. The fire damaged a num-

ber of carpentry shops nearby inflicting a loss

of more than about 700,000 Afghanis on each

shopkeeper. Caused by a bare electric wire, the

blaze was controlled soon after the timely arrival

of fire fighters.

In another fire incident, eight shops were

burnt in a blaze caused by an explosion inside

a fuel tanker in the eastern province of Nangar-

har on April 27, 201120. Fire services personnel

from the fire brigade put off the fire (Fig:11.8).

The fire erupted at 7:30am when a fuel tanker

exploded in front of the Customs House on

the outskirts of Jalalabad. In another fire inci-

dent, at least 20 carpet shops were gutted in

a fire that broke out in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capi-

tal of northern Balkh province, on November

10,2011. The fire originated from an electric

short circuit at a rug market west of Hazrat Ali

Shrine at around 2 pm and soon engulfed 20

adjoining shops

Transport Accidents

Afghanistan during the last few years has wit-

nessed an increase in the number of road traffic

accidents. The increase in road traffic accidents

was due to the province’s small roads, mountain-

ous areas, winding roads, negligence and reckless-

ness of drivers22. The increase in the number of

cars on the roads, including many without proper

registration, was also a contributing factor to this.

As most of the houses are very close to the roads,

speeding drivers can cause accidents to pedes-

trians. Most of the accidents were caused by over

speeding and reckless driving. Afghanistan’s roads

are perilous and many vehicles in the country are

old. Hence, high casualties in road traffic accidents

were relatively common. If traffic rules were en-

forced strictly, road traffic accidents and resultant

casualties can be reduced significantly.

On January 15, 2011, a dozen people were

killed when a passenger coach rammed into a

truck on the Kabul-Torkham highway near Jalala-

bad in the Bakhtan area18. Twelve passengers in

the coach were killed in the accident instantly. In

another incident, eleven people, including two

children and a woman, were killed and 17 oth-

ers were seriously wounded in a traffic accident

in western Herat province on February 27, 201123.

The accident occurred when a truck crashed into

a mini van and both vehicles fell in a deep ditch,

resulted in killing of eleven people.

Twenty passengers were killed and 24 oth-Fig 11.8 : A fire services person from the fire brigade, putting off fire in

the eastern province of Nangarhar in Afghanistan (Source:PAN)


| 117 |

ers injured when a bus on its way from Kabul to

southwestern Nimroz province flipped over on

the main Kabul-Kandahar highway in southern

Zabul province on April 28, 201124.

As many as 11 people were killed and

wounded in two separate road traffic accidents

that took place in the southern Nimrooz province

on May 7, 201125. Three passengers including a

woman and two children were killed in the first

accident that happened when a Saracha-Type

Corolla car collided a Trailer vehicle along the

way between Zaranj and Delarm. In the second

accident two passengers were killed and three

others were wounded in Chagansoor district of

the same province. On May 14, 2011, twenty one

people were killed in northern Afghanistan when

a bus veered off the road and plunged into a river

in the Balkh province. The accident happened at

around 6 a.m. local time in Balkh district, located

322 kilometers northwest of the capital Kabul.

The driver of the bus was apparently driving at

a high speed when he lost control of the vehicle,

and the bus then skidded off the road and fell

into the river. The victims were all members of the

same family, who died on the spot. There were

three women and 15 children among the dead.

Fifteen people from four different families,

including women and children, were killed on

June 21, 2011, when a truck skidded off a road

and overturned in the western Herat province of

Afghanistan26. The truck was en route to Herat

City from Farsi district.

A total of 35 Afghans were killed and 27 oth-

ers injured on August 20, 2011 when a speed-

ing bus overturned on a highway in southern

Afghanistan28. The incident happened just out-

side the Kandahar city in the Daman district of

Kandahar province on the main road connect-

ing it to the capital, Kabul. Afghanistan President

Hamid Karzai issued a statement expressing his

deep sympathy for those killed.

At least eight people lost their lives in two

separate road accidents in the northern Bagh-

lan province on September 6, 201129. The first

accident took place in Gardab area of Baghlan-

i-Markazi district on September 6, 2011, when

a passenger bus collided with a van, killing five

civilians and injuring eight others. Elsewhere,

three people were killed when a car plunged

into a river in Shahr-i-Qadim of Pul-i-Khumri, the

provincial capital. In another incident, atleast 15

people were killed in a traffic accident in south-

ern Helmand province on November 12, 2011.

The incident happened in Helmand-Kandahar

highway when a speeding bus crashed with a car

coming in the opposite direction.

Other accidents

An Indian teacher, working in an Afghan universi-

ty, and his wife died following leakage of poison-

ous gas at a hotel in Kabul on January 30, 2011.

The couple died following leakage of some poi-

sonous gas in the hotel where some employees

of the hotel too were injured.

Bangladesh

Industrial Accidents

In Bangladesh, at least 388 workers were killed

in workplace related accidents across the

country during the year 2011, according to

a report of Safety and Rights Society, an NGO

from Dhaka31. The report was prepared on the

basis of reports published in 26 daily newspa-

pers (15 national and 11 regional newspapers)

from January 1 to December 31, 2011. The re-

port did not include the deaths of workers

outside the workplace or deaths of workers

| 118 |


as a result of road traffic incidents. The survey

found that the highest number of workers

(183) died in construction sites, followed by

deaths in factories and other manufacturing

organisations (86), service organisations like

hotels, workshops, power supply organisa-

tions (73) and others sectors (46). Electrocu-

tion was the cause of the highest number of

deaths (134 workers) while 74 died after fall-

ing from height (i.e scaffolds). Some 50 oth-

ers were crushed to death by machinery or

hard objects. The remaining 130 workers died

from various causes, including exploding boil-

ers, chemical and gas explosions, fire, suffoca-

tion as well as earth, roof and wall collapses.

However, the report mentioned that the ac-

tual number of the workplace deaths is cer-

tainly more than the numbers published in

the report as many workplace deaths were

not reported in the newspapers. The organisa-

tion observed that most of the electrocutions

occurred when iron rods carried by construc-

tion workers came into contact with live elec-

tric lines passing near the under construction

buildings. It also observed that the workers fall

victims to electrocution, as they were not pro-

vided protective wearing equipment like hel-

mets, gloves, shoes etc during the work.

On May 17, 2011, two people were injured, one

of them seriously, when a gas cylinder of a CNG-

run bus exploded at a filling station in Kalurghat

area in Chittagong (Fig:11.9). The blast blew up

the left hand of a driver, who was waiting to refu-

el his car. The other victim was a passerby. There

was no passenger on the bus at the time of the

accident. In another incident, three persons in-

cluding an adolescent boy were killed as a cylin-

der exploded in Cox's Bazar and a boiler went off

in Bogra on August 24, 2011.

Fig 11.9 : The gas cylinder of a bus that was exploded while it was being filled at a CNG station of Chandgaon in Chittagong, damaging the

vehicle along with a car and the dispenser in Kalurghat area on 17th May, Photo: STAR

Fire

At least 25 persons were injured and 30 houses

gutted in a devastating fire at Kamarpara village

under Sadar upazila in Panchagarh on January

27, 2011 evening32. The fire originated from a

kitchen and engulfed soon to adjacent houses.

Fire fighters rushed to the spot and brought the

blaze under control with the help of local people

after six hours of effort. In another incident, a

devastating fire gutted at least 24 huts belong-

ing to poor people including casual labourers at

Bonkola village of Sujanagar upazila under the

district on February 3, 201133(Fig:11.10).

Fig 11.10 : An elderly woman laments as she lost everything in the fire that burnt 24 huts to ashes at Bonkola village in Sujanagar upazila of

Pabna on 3rd February, 2011. Photo: STAR


| 119 |

The fire originated from a wood-burning stove

of Batashi Khatun of the village and spread very

quickly due to strong winds and destroyed all

the 24 houses in the area.

In another incident, at least 110 shops were

gutted in a fire at Chandukhali Bazar in Barnuna

district on April 15, 201134 (Fig:11.11). The fire

originated from a shop and soon engulfed the

Fig 11.11 : Remains of shops lie mangled after a devastating fire destroyed the whole of Chandukhali Bazar in Barguna district, causing

damage worth Tk 50 crore on April 15, 2011. Photo: STAR

Fig 11.12 : Patients, visitors and staff come out from Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital in Chittagong following a fire in the hospital

building. on May 27, 2011 Photo: STAR

entire bazar. On information, two fire fighting

units from Barguna and Patuakhali district head-

quarters rushed to the spot and extinguished the

blaze. The damage caused is estimated at Tk 50

crore.

At least 10 people were injured and proper-

ties worth around Tk 50 lakh was burnt in an-

other fire on May 27, 2011at Bangabandhu Me-

morial Hospital (BBMH) in Chittagong’s Khulshi

area34.

An electric short circuit caused the fire on the

fourth floor of the hospital and soon one side

of the floor was engulfed in flames. Panicked,

patients, attendants, visitors and staff of the

hospital started coming out of the seven-sto-

rey building in a rush and sustained injuries

(Fig:11.12).

A devastating fire gutted 105 shops in

Gobindaganj Upazila market on June 10, 2011

damaging goods and properties worth over Tk

7 crore35. The fire originated from an electric shot

circuit of a clothes shop at 5:00 am and soon en-

gulfed adjacent shops. The blaze burnt to ashes

the cash and goods of 105 shops and damaged

41 other shops.

In another fire incident, three people were

burnt to death on July 2, 2011 in a fire at a multi-

storey building at Sky Lark Point in Bijoynagar

area of Dhaka (Fig.11.13).

Fig 11.13 : Sky Lark Point at Bijoynagar in Dhaka. Fire ravaged the building on July 2, 2011 claiming three lives. Photo: STAR

The fire burnt the fifth, sixth and seventh

floors of 12-storey Sky Lark Point at Bijoynagar

(Fig: 11.13). Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD)

units from different parts of the capital rushed

to the spot and doused the fire with their joint

efforts.

| 120 |


In another major fire incident on November

22, 2011 in Lashma Fashion in Dhaka’s Uttara

area, the fire that engulfed a sweater factory in

Uttara was doused after around four-and-a-half

hours’ effort by fire fighters36 (Fig.11.15).

Fig 11.14: Curious people looking at the multi-storied building Skylark Point in city's Bijaynagar area on July 2, 2011, where three people were

burnt alive in a devastating fire (Photo: STAR)

Fig 11.15 : Fire fighters dousing an inferno that broke out at Lashma Fashion in Dhaka city's Uttara area on November 22, 2011

(Photo : Bangla News 24.com)

Road Accidents

As per a report of the Government of Bangla-

desh, around 18,500 people are being killed in

road accidents every year in Bangladesh that also

leave about 400000 people maimed causing a

burden on the nation. Another 20,600 people, in-

cluding 17,000 children, die in river transport ac-

cidents across the country every year.

Fig 11.16 : A police van lies badly mangled after being hit by a speeding truck on Dhaka-Sylhet Highway in Narsingdi on January 15, 2011

(Photo: STAR)

On January 15, 2011, nine police person-

nel were killed as a truck rammed their van on

Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Narsingdi37 (Fig:11.16).

The accident occurred around 10:45 am leaving

all the nine police personnel dead on the spot.

The cops, who were from Belabo Police Station in

Narsingdi, were on their way to Shibpur upazila

to attend a briefing on the law and order. Presi-

dent Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina expressed a deep shock at the deaths and

conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families. In

another tragedy, a three-bus crash in thick fog

killed nine people and injured 45 others in Pir-

ganj upazila of Rangpur on January 20, 201138.

The crash occurred at around 7:00 am when a

speeding bus of Uttar Banga Paribahan rammed

from behind a Dhaka-bound bus of FK Line on

Bogra-Rangpur highway at Chat Sholagari. The FK

Line bus had just pulled over to have an engine

glitch fixed. Within minutes, as locals were rescu-

ing the wounded, the third bus, which was bound

to Dhaka, ploughed into the Uttar Banga coach.


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In another accident, ten persons were killed

and three others were injured in a road accident

on the Dhaka–Khulna Highway at Bhanga in

Faridpur on February 4, 201139. The accident took

place at about 6:00pm on February 4, 2011 when

a minibus carrying the victims collided head-on

with a tank lorry.

Thirteen people were killed and 45 oth-

ers injured in two train-bus collisions in Co-

milla and Jessore on February 19, 201140. Dha-

ka-bound Subarna Express from Chittagong

collided with a Comilla-bound bus .at a level

crossing near Shashidal Rail Station in Brahman-

para upazila, leaving eight dead and 25 others

injured (Fig.11.17 (a)). Meanwhile, five people

died and 20 others sustained injuries in a train-

bus collision at Rajarhat rail crossing in sadar

upazila of Jessore while passing an unguarded

level crossing at about 5:00am on the same

day(Fig.11.17(b) ).

Figures 11.17(a) & (b) : A minibus, (top), at Brahmanpara in Comilla gets rammed by Subarna Express as it was going over a level crossing on 19

February 2011. On the same day, a couch, (above), collided with a train at Rajarhat in Jessore while passing an unguarded level crossing. Photos: STAR

At least nine people were killed and 20 oth-

ers injured when a bus rammed into a human

hauler at Parkola area at Shahjadpur upazila in

Sirajganj on April 21, 201142. The human hauler,

locally known as Nosiman, fell into a roadside

ditch with 29 people aboard after the speeding

bus hit it killing 6 people on the spot and injur-

ing 23 others. Of the injured, three persons died

on the way to hospital.

In another tragedy on 23 April 2011, a

launch MV Bipasha sank after colliding with a

stone-laden trawler that had already tipped

over in the Meghna at Char Kakoria under Sarail

upazila of Brahmanbaria41 (Fig:11.18).

Eighteen people were killed and 21 others

injured as a truck collided with a passenger bus

in Shahjahanpur upazila of the district on July 28,

201143(Fig: 11.19). All the victims were passen-

gers of the bus bound for Joypurhat. The driver

while driving the vehicle lost control over the ve-

hicle. The Prime Minister of the People’s Republic

of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina expressed deep

shock at the deaths in the tragic road accident.

She conveyed her profound sympathy to the be-

reaved families and prayed for eternal peace of

the departed souls. In another road accident, at

least 16 people were killed and 50 others were

Fig:11.18:The wrecked bus after a truck from the opposite direction swiped it on Dhaka-Bogra highway near Noymile in Shahjahanpur of

Bogra on 28 July, 2011 Photo: STAR

| 122 |


seriously injured when a luxury bus collided

head-on with a local passenger bus at Amtola in

BSCIC industrial area at Shibpur in Narsingdi on

August 2, 201144. The accident happened as the

Volvo bus driver lost control over the steering af-

ter a tyre of the bus got punctured (Fig: 11.20). It

was raining heavily when the accident occurred.

Fig11.19:The wrecked bus after a truck from the opposite direction swiped it on Dhaka-Bogra highway near Noymile in Shahjahanpur of

Bogra on 28 July, 2011 Photo: STAR

Fig 11.20 : Remains of a Sylhet-bound luxury bus that was smashed after colliding head-on with a local bus on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway

at Shibpur in Narsingdi on 02 August, 2011. At least 16 people were killed and 50 others injured. (Source: The Daily Star)

Eight people died falling off the roof of run-

ning trains in Tangail and Bogra on 04th Novem-

ber 201145. In Bogra, four people travelling on

Dinajpur-bound Ekota express fell off the roof

and got hit against Halhaliya Bridge at Santahar

of Adamdighi upazila around 2:00 am. In Tangail,

four passengers died and three others sustained

injuries after they fell from the roof of a moving

train on 04th November, 2011 (Fig: 11.21).

Fig 11.21 : A snap showing people travelling on the roofs of trains in Tangail and Bogra on November 4, 2011 Source: The Daily Star, Star Report

India

Road AccidentsIn a tragic incident which occurred in Anantapur

distrtict on the New Year eve, a lorry coming

from Kothacheruvu towards Puttaparthy in the

district hit an autorickshaw coming in the op-

posite direction resulting in the death of 11 per-

sons on the spot on January 1, 201147 (Fig:11.22).

Eleven of the fourteen persons travelling in the

autorickshaw were killed on the spot while three

sustained severe bleeding. In another road acci-

dent, at least 22 people, including 7 women and

six children, were killed and 19 injured when a

bus carrying businessmen and their families fell


| 123 |

into a gorge in Kuthalgate area near Dehradun

on January 5, 2011. The mishap occurred when

the bus, going to Haridwar from Mussoorie, skid-

ded off the road and fell into 50-feet-deep gorge.

Most of the victims died on the spot. In another

incident, twenty-one people, including 19 wom-

en, were killed and nine others were injured

when a pick-up van in which they were travelling

collided with a truck in Kuchera area in Rajasthan

on February 14, 201148. The accident took place

when they all were returning home in Luwari vil-

lage of Jodhpur district after performing some

rituals in Butati village.

Forty-three people, including 34 members of

a marriage party, were killed in two accidents in

the remote Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh

on March 3, 201147. A truck carrying the marriage

party veered off the Sohra-Sherpur road in the

Dalhousie sub-division in the early hours and

plunged into a gorge, killing 34 people and in-

juring eight others. In the other incident, all nine

persons were killed when a pick-up van fell into

a gorge at Thala Sirhari village of the Bharmaur

sub-division.

Eleven persons were killed and 58 injured

seven of them seriously, when an over-loaded

mini bus skidded off the road and fell into a deep

Fig 11.22 : The lorry which rammed an autorickshaw killing 11 people and injuring three others on Kothacheruvu road in Anantapur district

in Andhra Pradesh, India on 1st January, 2011( Source : The Hindu).

gorge in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kash-

mir on March 15, 201148. The mishap occurred

when the driver of the bus, which was on its way

from Latti to Chenani, lost control over the vehi-

cle and the vehicle skidded off the road and fell

into the 330-feet deep gorge at Choka Nallah,

about 125 kms from Jammu. Six persons died on

the spot and five others succumbed on their way

to hospital.

(Fig 11.23 : Policemen and villagers extricating bodies from the mangled remains of the bus at Yanamadala village in Guntur district in

Andhra Pradesh, India on March 20, 2011 (Source : The Hindu)

Nine people travelling by a Guntur-bound

APSRTC bus were killed while 20 others were

injured when it collided with a lorry and later

crashed into the cement boulders at Yanama-

dala village on the NH-5, about 10 km. from

Guntur town on March 20, 201147. The impact of

the crash was severe and the road was strewn

with broken pieces of glass and twisted metals

(Fig: 11.23). The bus was reduced to a piece of

mangled rubble. In another road accident, ten

persons, including three women, were killed and

at least 25 injured when a bus fell into a deep

gorge near Koti, 25 km from Chamba, on April

4, 201147. While eight persons died on the spot,

two succumbed to their injuries on the way to

the Hospital. The ill-fated bus was on its way

to Chamba from Bharara village. The bus went

| 124 |


down at least 50 feet in the gorge when the driv-

er suddenly lost control as a portion of the road

caved in.

In another major accident in Guntur district

in Andhra Pradesh, 10 persons, including nine

women, drowned when the tractor-trailer in

which they were travelling plunged into the Na-

garjunasagar canal near Sattenapalli on April 25,

2011. All of them were agricultural workers be-

longing to Vaddepalli and Sundarayya Colony in

Sattenapalli town. The accident occurred around

7.45 a.m. when the vehicle hit the wall of a cul-

vert while crossing it on the way to an agricul-

tural field. The driver lost control, causing the ve-

hicle to plunge into the canal.

On May 9, 2011, in Karnataka, eleven labour-

ers, including eight women, were killed when a

truck in which they were travelling collided with

a lorry in Koppal district. Nine others were also

severely injured48. In another incident, twelve la-

bourers were killed, 10 of them on the spot and

two in hospital, and eight were injured when a

mini-goods vehicle in which they were travel-

ling collided with a lorry on National Highway

13 near Onabellary Cross, 30 km from Koppal,

on May 9, 201149. Nineteen people were killed

and 62 others were injured in two separate road

mishaps in Rajasthan, on May 12, 201150. 11 men

were killed when a truck carrying a marriage

party overturned in Dholpur district. The incident

occurred near Arua-ka-Nala area when the vic-

tims were returning to their native village Khedli

after attending a marriage function at a nearby

village. Nine men died on the spot, while two

others succumbed to injuries on way to a hospi-

tal. In another mishap, eight persons were killed

and 12 others injured in a collision between two

cars in Pali district. The accident happened near

Bavra village when the cars collided head on May

11, 2011. In West Bengal, at least 12 people were

killed and 50 others were injured in a road acci-

dent near Chhatna in Bunkura Distt on May 12,

201149. The incident occurred when a passenger

bus overturned following loss of control by the

driver on a road in Meghnath jungle in West Ben-

gal's Bankura district. The driver of the bus was

among those killed. The injured passengers were

rushed to Sammilani Medical College in Bankura

town. In another train and jeep collision in Mad-

hubani district in Bihar on May 22, 2011, 21 peo-

ple were killed49. Among those killed include 11

women, nine children and the driver of the jeep.

The collision between the overcrowded jeep and

Jay Nagar bound Garib Rath Express took place

at an unmanned railway crossing near Mangar-

patti Railway halt. The impact of the accident was

so severe that the jeep was dragged about half a

kilometer before the train stopped.

In another ghastly road accident in Lux-

ettipet mandal of Adilabad district in Andhra

Pradesh, six persons, including two children, trav-

elling in a jeep lost their lives on May 25, 201147.

Another dozen passengers of the ill-fated jeep

were severely injured after it rammed a station-

ary lorry near Yellampalli village in Luxettipet

mandal. In another bizarre incident on the same

day, three persons succumbed to injuries and 17

others suffered serious injuries when the side

iron holds of a trailer-truck laden with iron gird-

ers sliced through a passenger bus under the

Ramabhadrapuram Police Station limits. The pas-

sengers were travelling from Jeypore (Orissa) to

Rajahmundry in a bus belonging to the Orissa

State Road Transport Corporation.

Thirty-six people were killed and 17 oth-

ers injured in two road mishaps in Assam where

a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a pond

and an oil tanker caught fire on May 30, 2011. 31


| 125 |

passengers, including 12 women, were killed and

six persons critically injured when a bus carry-

ing a marriage party fell into a pond in Kamrup

(Rural) district on May 30, 2011 night. The bus,

carrying around 40 passengers from Guwahati

to Dihu in Rangia sub-division of the district, fell

into the 40 ft deep pond when a wooden bridge

it was crossing gave in. The accident occurred at

Rajabari on Hajo-Guwahati road. In the second

accident, five persons were charred to death and

12 others injured when an oil tanker burst into

flames in Badulipara in Golaghat district early on

the morning of May 31, 2011.

In another mishap, at least 18 pilgrims sleep-

ing near the roadside were killed and ten others

injured after they were run over by a speeding

truck near Ahmedabad on June 8, 201148. The mis-

hap took place on the Dholka-Bagodara High-

way when a group of people were sleeping near

a road side `dhaba' (eatery) at Beghwa crossroad.

The truck lost control and ran over them. Sixteen

persons, including nine women, were killed on

Fig 11.24 : The remains of the van which was involved in a collision with a truck near Mohanur in Namakkal district in Tamil Nadu, India on

June 15, 2011 (Source : The Hindu) .

the spot while two others died in hospital.

Eleven persons, including eight women, were

killed when the van in which they were travelling

collided with a lorry at Rasipalayam village near

Mohanur in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu on

June 15, 201147(Fig:11.24). The van was negotiat-

Fig 11.25 : The wreckage of the accident occurred near Heggare in Tumkur district in Karnataka, India on June 27, 2011 (Source : The Hindu)

ing a blind curve when it collided with the lorry.

Sixteen persons died and eight were severely

injured when a Karnataka State Road Transport

Corporation (KSRTC) bus collided with a Tempo

Trax near Heggare in Tumkur district in Karna-

taka on June 27, 201147(Fig: 1125). The accident

occurred on National Highway 206, in front of

Gangadharaiah Memorial Hall, around 12.30 p.m.

While 15 people died on the spot, one died on

the way to hospital.

Rail Accidents

Ten persons were killed and over 40 were in-

jured in three train accidents at three different

places in Uttar Pradesh on January 1, 2011, even

as dense fog played havoc with rail, road and air

traffic47. The accidents, in a span of three hours,

involved five express trains. All casualties oc-

curred at the Panki station near Kanpur when the

Bhiwani-Gorakhpur Gorakhdam Express rammed

the stationary New-Delhi-Prayagraj Express from

the rear at around 9 a.m. The victims were in the

last two unreserved compartments of the Alla-

habad-bound train. The guard was also killed in

the mishap. Earlier in the day, the Delhi-Sitama-

rhi Lichchavi Express rammed the stationary

| 126 |


Magadh Express near the Sarai Bhopat station

in Etawah district at 8.15 a.m on January 1, 2011

(Fig: 11.26).

(Fig 11.26: The mangled coaches of the Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express after the Bihar-bound Lichchavi Express rammed it at Sarai Bhopat in

Uttar Pradesh in India Source : The Hindu ).

In another incident, 14 youths, travelling atop a

train, were killed when they hit against an over-

head bridge near the Rosa station in Shahjahan-

pur district of Uttar Pradesh on 1 February 2011.

The victims were returning from Bareilly by the

Jammu Tawi-Howrah Himgiri Express, after a re-

cruitment test for tradesmen in the Indo-Tibetan

Border Police (ITBP) (Fig: 11.27).

Fig 11.27: ITBP job aspirants, returning from Bareilly by an overcrowded train, at the Budaun station in India on February 1, 2011 Source : The Hindu.

Air Accidents

In one of the worst helicopter crashes in

Arunachal Pradesh, 17 persons, including three

crew members were killed and six injured when

a Pawan Hans MI-17 copter caught fire and

plunged into a gorge in Tawang city on April 19,

201147. The chopper was flying to Tawang from

the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International

Airport in Guwahati and had taken off at 12.45

p.m. It caught fire, broke into pieces and crashed

into a gorge close to the helipad around 13.57

p.m. Two crew members and four passengers

survived with grievous injuries .The villagers as-

sisted Army personnel in under taking rescue op-

erations (Fig: 11.28).

At least 66 persons, including ministers, legis-

lators, senior government officials and pilots,

were killed in air crashes in the North East dur-

ing the past one decade. Of the 66 killed in plane

and helicopter crashes at least 47 were killed in

Arunachal Pradesh alone. The air crashes had oc-

curred due to high altitude terrain in the region,

inclement weather conditions and mechanical

defects owing to lack of proper maintenance of

the air craft.

Stampedes

A stampede is a sudden rush of a congregated,

active or polarized aggregate of people, resulting

in many injuries and death from suffocation and

trampling. The two major behavioural reasons of

(Fig 11.28: Army personnel and villagers having a look at the remains of a Pawan Hans helicopter which crashed in Tawang, Arunachal

Pradesh, India on April 19, 2011 (Source : The Hindu).


| 127 |

any stampede are anxiety and panic. Most of the

stampede disasters can be prevented by simple

crowd management strategies.

On January 14, 2011, many pilgrims gath-

ered to attend the Makarjyothi darshan, on the

last day of a yearly festival which attracted mil-

lions of devotees, at a Hindu shrine in Pamba

at sabarimala in the Pattanamthitta district of

Kerala, India. After witnessing the Makarajyothi

at Pamba, the pilgrims were returning and on

their way back at around 8 p.m, the stampede

incident happened, killing 102 pilgrims and in-

juring at least 100 more. The tragedy occurred

when an auto and jeep overturned. Both the

vehicles were filled with the devotees. Initially,

the fully packed auto overturned after it lost

control. While the pilgrims were trying to lift

the auto, the jeep rammed, triggering the stam-

pede, which resulted in killing of 102 piligrims.

The autopsy report also suggested that most

of the pilgrims died of injuries to their internal

organs due to the stampede.The Kerala Chief

Minister announced a judicial inquiry into the

stampede that claimed the lives of 102 Sabari-

mala pilgrims. He also announced a solatium

of Rs five lakh for the families of each of the

victims. The seriously injured were given Rs

50,000($1,100 USD) and those with minor in-

juries Rs 25,000 ($550 USD) each. He also re-

viewed with cabinet colleagues on the spot ar-

rangements to transport the bodies as most of

the deceased were from neighbouring states of

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The

state of Kerala declared three days of mourning.

Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh

offered condolences for the deaths and an-

nounced a compensation of 100,000 ($2,200

USD) to the next of kin of the dead and 50,000

($1,100 USD) for those injured. A team of Na-

tional Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was sent

to the scene. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also

announced 1,00,000 to the family of each vic-

tim from Tamil Nadu. Keeping the fact of Sabari-

mala tragedy which left over 102 pilgrims dead

in a stampede, a cautious Kerala government

came up with a new footpath, a bridge and a

slew of measures to decongest the route lead-

ing to the Sabarimala temple. It was also decid-

ed that an integrated security and safety plan

involving police, rapid action force and disas-

ter management contingents would be put in

place during the two-month long pilgrimage

season of Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. Apart

from strengthening intelligence gathering,

trained commandos, bomb detection squads,

disaster management units and RAF contin-

gents would be deployed at the base camp

Pampa, ''Sannidhanam'' atop the hill shrine and

other places connected with the event.

Fire

The year 2011 witnessed a major fire accident in

AMRI Hospital which was located in a posh area

in Kolkata. AMRI hospital is a center for training

the students of Institute of Radiology & Medi-

cal Imaging and is ISO 9001:2000 certified. It is a

multistoried private hospital which turned into a

towering inferno in the early hours of the morn-

ing when a fire broke out in the AMRI hospital in

Kolkata on December 9, 2011(Fig: 11.29). The fire

spread fast from the basement of the hospital,

engulfing one ward after the other and trapping

hundreds of people.

The fire was first noticed by local residents at

around 3.30 a.m. who rushed to the gates but

were stopped by security guards. The hospital

authorities reported to the fire station after an

hour or so. Firemen, who reached at 4.30 a.m.

| 128 |


broke through the double-paned glass façade of

the hospital and rescued a few lucky survivors.

Around 25 fire engines were rushed to the spot.

The fire fighters used hydraulic ladders to rescue

the patients and office staffs by cutting open the

glasses with gas cutters. Many patients were low-

ered down from the upper floors in safety har-

nesses attached to ropes; others were wheeled

out on stretchers. But by then, it was too late for

a majority of the 150 patients admitted at AMRI.

The fire was the result of an electrical short cir-

cuit in the basement car park, which was used for

storing combustible material like LPG cylinders,

engine oil, PVC pipes, bedding, etc. The fire didn’t

spread at all and was confined to the basement.

But the thick black smoke went up through the

AC ducts and carried it through the rooms of

and the corridors of the seven-storeyed hospital

located in a densely-populated area.

Fig 11.29: Photograph showing fire in the AMRI hospital in Kolkata, India

The fire killed 91 patients including three

hospital staffers in the incident. While many pa-

tients died of burns, most died due to suffoca-

tion caused by carbon monoxide accumulation

all over the building. Critical patients trapped

inside the smoke-filled ICU were the biggest

casualties. In a desperate bid to rescue them,

windows were broken, locals rushed in, as fire-

fighters collapsed unable to cope with the

smoke (Fig: 11.30). The Chief Minister of West

Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, who also holds

the health portfolio, cancelled the license of

the hospital immediately. A judicial investiga-

tion into the entire catastrophic incident was

ordered. Six members of the hospital board

were arrested on charges of culpable homicide

and negligence. An exgratia grant at the rate

of Rs 3 lakh was provided to the next of kin of

the deceased in the AMRI hospital fire by the

government of West Bengal. A sum of Rs 1.5

lakh was paid from the State Disaster Response

Fund and an equal amount was paid from the

State budget for the purpose. At the central

level, the Prime Minister sanctioned an ex-

gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the

deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured

from the PM’s relief fund.

Fig 11.30 (a) & (b) :Photographs showing aggrieved relatives of the deceased of the AMRI hospital fire breakout in Kolkata, India

(Source: The Hindu).

Maldives

A house named ‘Fair’ in Maafannu ward was

severely damaged in a fire incident on March

9, 2011. Households and valuables were dam-

aged in the incident. In another fire incident,

two persons were killed on March 20, 201146.

The fire had originated in the kitchen of Hen-


| 129 |

veiru Orchid, the house in which the two vic-

tims were trapped. After the fire broke out,

firefighters from the MNDF, who were the first

to arrive on the scene, managed to douse the

flames, but were unable to control the blaze

that was enveloping Orchid house. After ini-

tial attempts to enter the house failed, a new

group of MNDF firemen managed to force their

way inside and retrieved the bodies of the two

victims (Fig:11.31). Later in the day, Maldivian

President, Mohamed Nasheed, visited Henvei-

ru Orchid to inspect the damage wrought by

the inferno. After meeting the members of the

grieved family President Nasheed expressed

his deep sympathy.

Fig 11.31 : The two dead bodies retrieved from Henveiru Orchidge in Maldives being taken to the ambulance on 20 March 2011.

(Source: HAVEERU News)

In another incident, a fire broke out on July 10,

2011 in an apartment on the fourth floor of

Galolhu Feeroz Lodge causing damage to the

premises owned by Donad Garment Factory. In

another incident, fire broke out on September

12, 2011 at a house located near the Maafannu

Piyajige, Buru, leaving a person in a serious condi-

tion46. Firefighters of Maldives National Defence

Force (MNDF) rescued the person trapped inside

the house (Fig: 11.32)

Road Accidents

On May 10, 2011, three people were injured in a

dangerous road accident involving 3 motor cy-

cles and a car on Addu Link Road. On June 21, a

speeding car, while trying to overtake a cycle, col-

lided with the cycle on Addu Link Road, sending

the cycle and its occupants crashing on to the

asphalt causing serious injuries. Simultaneously,

the collision sent the car rolling over several feet,

seriously injuring the driver and rendering the

vehicle unusable.

Nepal

Air Accidents

In Nepal, a small plane carrying foreign tour-

ists crashed in a hill south of Kathmandu air-

port early on, September 25, 2011, killing all 19

people aboard including the crew members51

(Fig: 11.33). The accident site, Kotdanda, lies

between Lamatar and Bisankhunarayan VDCs

in Lalitpur, around 15 kilometers south of the

Tribhuvan International Airport. The ill-fated

flight was approaching Kathmandu airport in

cloudy weather after completing its mountain

flight.

Fig 11.32 : Firefighters of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) rescue the person trapped inside Maafannu Piyajige after fire broke out

at a ground floor room of the house on September 12, 2011. (Source: HAVEERU News)

| 130 |


Fig 11.33 :Wreckages of an air craft that crashed on September 25, 2011at Kotdanda around 15 kilometers south of the Tribhuvan

International Airport, Nepal (Source: The Kantipur News)

Pakistan

Bomb Blasts

At least 35 security personne were killed and 54

seriously injured when a suicide bomber blew

himself up in the parade ground at Punjab Regi-

ment Centre (PRC) area in Mardan, District on

January 13, 2011. A 16 year old suicide bomber

in a student's uniform entered the ground from

the western side to PRC centre with other chil-

dren and reached the parade ground located

near Officers Mess where Jawans in large num-

ber were busy in their routine drill and other ex-

ercises. The suicide bomber blew himself up with

a huge bang. As a result 35 security forces jawans

were martyred and 54 got injured in which 20

were seriously injured. In another incident on

January 21, 2011, at least 20 persons, including

five Police and Frontier Constabulary person-

nel, were killed and 15 others sustained injuries

when a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed

into the Miryan police station. Six security of-

ficials were also severely injured in the explo-

sion. In another incident at Lahore, a massive car

bomb blast ripped through a gas station in Fais-

alabad on March 8, 2011, killing at least 32 peo-

ple and wounding 125 others53. The explosion

also damaged nearby buildings, including an of-

fice of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

A suicide bomber killed 43 people and wounded

52 others in an attack on a funeral prayer in Ad-

ezai village near Peshawar on March 9, 2011. The

bomber blew himself up soon after the prayers

had begun. In another incident, at least 32 peo-

ple were killed in a suicide bombing in a market

in Peshawar late on June 11, 2011. Ninety-five

people were also wounded54. The bombing took

place near a building which houses several news-

paper offices as well as apartments and across

the street only about 100 yards from army hous-

ing units. In another blast at a hotel on the Na-

tional Highway close to Dera Allah Yar in Quetta

killed 15 people and injured 23 others on August

14, 201154. The blast destroyed the double-storey

building of the hotel and reduced it to rubble.

The explosion rocked the town and caused panic

among its residents. The attack also wounded 23

other people.

More than 50 persons, including women

and children, were killed and over 100 others in-

jured when a suicide bomber struck at a mosque

in Jamrud on August 19, 201152. The blast took

place at Jamia Masjid Madina in Sherabaz

Madokhel in Ghundai area of Tehsil Jamrud, Khy-

Fig11.34 :A blast victim being shifted to a hospital in Sherabaz Madokhel in Ghundai area on August 19, 2011 (Source: The Frontier Post)


| 131 |

ber Agency (Fig: 11.34). Hundreds of people were

offering Friday prayers inside the mosque when

the explosion took place. Immediately after the

blast, rescue teams and law enforcement agen-

cies personnel rushed to the spot and retrieved

the injured and bodies from under the collapsed

roof of the mosque.

A car bombing targeting the house of a

politician in southwestern Pakistan had killed at

least 15 people and injured 23 others in the city

of Quetta on December 30, 2011. The explosion

caused damage to nearby homes and cars and

set several shops on fire. Thousands of people

were killed in bombings and other militant at-

tacks over the past few years in Pakistan, and sev-

eral thousands more were displaced.

In Quetta, at least 19 miners were killed

and more than 34 others were trapped when a

coalmine in Sorang area collapsed due to pow-

erful explosions resulted from accumulation of

deadly methane gas, about 25 kilometers from

the provincial capital Quetta on March 21, 201155.

Sri Lanka

Road Accidents

At least six persons were killed and eight oth-

ers injured when a passenger bus bashed into

a van proceeding from Kuruwita to Colombo at

Ihala Kosgama on the Avissawella-Colombo road

on January 13, 201156. The passengers in the van

were returning after attending a funeral and the

bus was bound to Colombo from Walasmulla. In

another accident, at least three passengers were

killed and 40 others injured when a private bus

plying from Passara to Miyanakadura plunged

down a 300-feet precipice at Namunukula area

on March 25, 2011. In another incident, seven

persons were killed while ten others were injured

in Warakapola, on May 23, 2011, when the van in

which they were travelling collided head on with

a lorry in the Colombo- Kandy main road. All the

victims were admitted to the Kegalle General

Hospital but succumbed to their injuries. The vic-

tims are residents of Pallemorugama and Buth-

gamuwa. In an another collision incident, five

persons died and 27 others were injured when a

van transporting staff of a garment factory, col-

lided head on with a private bus at Kiribathkum-

bura on the Colombo-Kandy main road on July

16, 201157. The bus was travelling from Matale to

Colombo when it collided with the van carrying

staff of a garment factory from Hemmathagama

to Kandy. The driver of the van was among those

who died.

References:1. Tolo News

2. Daily Outlook Afghanistan, KANDAHAR CITY

(Pajhwok)

3. Press TV, Kunduz

4. Press TV

5. Daily Outlook Afghanistan, KABUL

6. Daily Times, Kabul

7. Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) SHARAN

8. PAN by Mirwais Himmat (GHAZNI CITY)

9. PAN (GARDEZ) by Daud Tapan

10. PAN (PUL-I-ALAM)

11. Daily Times, Khost

12. VOA News

13. PAN

14. PAN (HERAT CITY/ KABUL) by Pajhwok Report

15. Pajhwok Afghan News, Parwan

16. Dawn News, Kabul

17. PAN (KHOST CITY)

18. Daily Outlook Afghanistan, JALALABAD (Pajhwok)

19. PAN

20. PAN (JALALABAD)

21. Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) MAZAR-I-SHARIF

| 132 |

Introduction

22. Daily Outlook Afghanistan, ASADABAD (Pajhwok)

23. Daily Outlook, Herat

24. PAN KANDAHAR CITY

25. Bakhtar News Agency

26. Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) HERAT CITY

27. PAN (Kabul)

28. The Frontier Post, KANDAHAR (APP)

29. PAN (PUL-I-KHUMRI)

30. Tolo News, Helmand

31. The Daily Star

32. The Daily Star, Thakurgaon

33. The Daily Star, Pabna

34. The Daily Star, Patuakhali

35. The Daily Star, Gobindaganj

36. New Age, Bdnews24.com, Dhaka

37. The Daily Star,

38. The Daily Star, Gaibandha

39. New Age,

40. The Daily Star, Star Report

41. The Daily Star, Brahmanbaria

42. The New Nation, Sirajganj

43. The Daily Star, Bogra

44. The Daily Star, Narsingdi

45. The Daily Star, Star Report

46. Haveeru News

47. The Hindu

48. DD News

49. News on air

50. Press Trust of India

51. The Kantipur News

52. The Frontier Post, Mardan

53. Daily Times, Faisalabad

54. Daily Times, Peshawar

55. Daily Times, Quetta

56. Daily Mirror

57. Daily News, Kiribathkumbura

Man-made Disasters


| 133 |

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre is pub-

lishing the South Asia Disaster Report annually

since 2007 onwards. This report documents the

relevant information about all the disasters, nat-

ural as well as man-made, in the South Asia re-

gion. The earlier annual reports generated by the

Centre for the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010

have evoked overwhelming response from many

quarters. The present South Asia Disaster Report,

2011 documents the geological, hydro-meteoro-

logical, biological and man-made disasters that

were witnessed in all the eight SAARC countries

i.e., Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mal-

dives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the

year 2011 (i.e., from 01 January to 31 December,

2011).

The report analyzes the trends of disasters in

the SAARC region, their impacts and assessment

of damage and loss of lives, property and infra-

structure. It also discusses the manner in which

response to the disasters was organized in these

countries at the local, regional, provincial and na-

tional levels, and the necessary steps taken for re-

covery and reconstruction and for mitigation of

disaster risks, and the challenges and constraints

faced for the holistic management of disasters in

the region.

The data used for this publication is from

many sources. Daily reports of disasters in the

member countries of SAARC have been meticu-

lously collected by the SAARC Disaster Manage-

ment Centre from the published and electronic

media reports and the essential information have

been collected and analysed to document the

pattern and frequency of disasters in these coun-

tries. The important sources include the global

Emergency Disaster Database (EMDAT) main-

tained by the Centre for Research on Epidemiol-

ogy of Disasters (CRED), the Global Disaster Alert

and Coordination System (GDAC); the database

of the United States Geological Surveys (USGS),

Afghanistan National Disaster Authority (AND-

MA), Bangladesh Meteorological Department

(BMD), Disaster Management Bureau (DMB)

Bangladesh, Bhutan Geological Survey (BGS),

Geological Survey of India (GSI), India Meteoro-

logical Department (IMD), India Disaster Report

Department of Meteorology, Maldives; Nepal

Seismological Centre (NSC), Geological Survey of

Pakistan (GSP), Pakistan Meteorological Depart-

ment (PMD), and Department of Meteorology,

Sri Lanka. The national focal points of SDMC were

consulted for authentic information on the disas-

ters in respective countries. Because of inherent

limitations of international data agencies in re-

porting the country-based disaster information,

SDMC developed its own database generated

from an extensive daily survey and analysis of a

large number of newspapers published from the

region, which generated a wealth of extremely

valuable information on disasters in the region to

supplement the existing database. The SAARC Di-

saster Management Centre has now established

a mechanism of documenting disasters on a dai-

ly basis. It is primarily based on media reporting.

Aggregating daily reports, the Centre is already

Conclusion

Chapter 12

| 134 |

Introduction

publishing its weekly disaster update which is

posted on its website. The Centre is also pub-

lishing a quarterly news letter i.e., SDMC Informs

which also gives relevant information of all the

important disaster events occurred in the SAARC

region.

This report is a sincere effort to develop a

comprehensive disaster data bank on different

disaster themes by compiling data available from

different primary sources in the national govern-

ments, regional agencies, scientific and techni-

Conclusion

cal organizations and various global sources, as

detailed in the appendices on different disaster

themes.

It is hoped that the information and analysis

in the report will be extremely useful and gen-

erate interest among the researchers, disaster

managers, scientists, engineers, policy makers,

administrators, relief and rehabilitation agencies,

civil society organizations and other national and

international organizations.

Appendix

| 136 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix I-

A

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uth

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a D

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ter

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file

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aste

r Ev

ent>

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in n

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anka

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559

1020

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7268

0


| 137 |

Dis

aste

r Ev

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>>

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lan

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n-

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1679

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stan

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div

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| 138 |

Introduction

Sl. N

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tal K

illd

1.In

du

stri

al a

ccid

ents

43

2.M

isce

llan

eou

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cid

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90

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1

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t acc

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27

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012

& M

edia

Rep

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C

Peop

le k

illed

in M

an M

ade

Dis

aste

r


| 139 |

Ap

pen

dix

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age

(US$

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, Tak

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| 140 |

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| 141 |

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| 142 |

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| 144 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

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nd

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011

36.4

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du

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sh R

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831

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2011

36.3

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nd

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1030

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2011

34.5

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Nan

gar

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vin

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/08/

2011

36.4

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shan

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vin

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1224

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2011

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vin

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1323

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2011

36.4

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km

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akh

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vin

ce

1419

/08/

2011

36.6

369

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M10

km

Takh

ar P

rovi

nce

1517

/08/

2011

36.3

569

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mTa

khar

Pro

vin

ce

166/

8/20

1136

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kmB

adak

hsh

an P

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nce

1727

/07/

2011

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ar P

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1817

/05/

2011

36.5

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2011

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2011

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2011

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1136

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2011

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| 146 |

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621

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Sou

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2011

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127/

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1127

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24.

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134/

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Sri L

anka

119

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| 148 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix-V

B

Eart

hq

uak

e D

ata

of S

ou

th A

sia-

20

11

As

reco

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by

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log

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(IMD

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eg. N

)Lo

ng

(Deg

.E)

Dep

th(K

m)

Mag

nit

ud

eR

egio

n

26/0

1/20

1129

.0°N

77.2

°E10

3.2

Har

yan

a(D

istt

.So

nep

at)-

U.P

(Dis

tt.B

agh

pat

) Bo

rder

Reg

ion

27/0

1/20

1124

.3°N

94.4

°E75

4.6

May

anm

ar-I

nd

ia (M

anip

ur)

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

01/0

2/20

1123

.7°N

91.8

°E10

3.8

Trip

ura

01/0

2/20

1111

.3°N

93.8

°E33

5.3

Off

Eas

t C

oas

t O

f An

dam

an Is

lan

ds

04/0

2/20

1124

.8°N

94.6

°E72

6.4

May

anm

ar-I

nd

ia (M

anip

ur)

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

05/0

2/20

1116

.5°N

74.3

°E5

3.1

Kar

nat

ka (B

elg

aon

), M

ahar

ash

tra

(Ko

lhap

ur)

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

08/0

2/20

1122

.5°N

79.6

°E12

3.5

Seo

ni,

Mad

hya

Pra

des

h

09/0

2/20

1136

.1°N

73.6

°E15

5.0

No

rth

wes

tern

Kas

hm

ir

10/0

2/20

1109

.2°N

92.4

°E45

4.4

Car

Nic

ob

ar, N

ico

bar

Isla

nd

s

12/0

2/20

1123

.5°N

91.0

°E10

4.0

Ban

gla

des

h-I

nd

ia(T

rip

ura

)Bo

rder

Reg

ion

18/0

2/20

1128

.6°N

77.3

°E05

2.3

Del

hi

22/0

2/20

1124

.4°N

94.4

°E83

4.1

Mya

nm

ar-I

nd

ia(M

anip

ur)

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

26/0

2/20

1127

.5°N

75.6

°E10

3.0

Nim

Ka

Than

a ( D

istr

ict:S

ikar

), R

ajas

than

14/0

3/20

1130

.5°N

79.1

°E8

3.3

Ch

amo

li, U

ttar

akh

and

23/0

3/20

1136

.3°N

76.6

°E57

5.2

Ind

ia (J

amm

u &

Kas

hm

ir) -

Ch

ina

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

04/0

4/20

1129

.6°N

80.8

°E10

5.7

Nep

al In

dia

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

16/0

4/20

1118

.1°N

76.6

°E10

2.6

Latu

r Dis

t., M

ahar

ash

tra

26/0

4/20

1125

.5°N

92.5

°E70

4.3

Meg

hal

aya-

Ass

am B

ord

er R

egio

n

28/0

4/20

1133

.3°N

76.6

°E10

3.8

Him

ach

al-J

&K

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

29/0

4/20

1125

.9°N

94.7

°E10

4.3

Nag

alan

d

04/0

5/20

1130

.2°N

80.4

°E10

5.0

Ind

ia-N

epal

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

17/0

5/20

1123

.5°N

70.4

°E15

3.5

Kac

hch

h R

egio

n,G

uja

rat


| 149 |

Dat

eLa

t(D

eg. N

)Lo

ng

(Deg

.E)

Dep

th(K

m)

Mag

nit

ud

eR

egio

n

24/0

5/20

1125

.2°N

92.4

°E20

3.4

Meg

hal

aya,

Ind

ia

04/0

7/20

1129

.9°N

79.3

°E14

3.4

Ch

amo

li- A

lmo

ra D

ist.

Bo

rder

, Utt

arak

han

d

16/0

7/20

1109

.9°N

92.7

°E10

4.6

Nic

ob

ar Is

lan

ds,

Ind

ia

26/0

7/20

1109

.6°N

76.6

°E15

3.5

Ko

ttay

am -

Idu

kki D

ist

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

, Ker

ala

26/0

7/20

1109

.7°N

76.8

°E15

3.2

Ko

ttay

am -

Idu

kki D

ist

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

, Ker

ala

28/0

7/20

1125

.3°N

88.6

°E18

4.5

Ind

ia (

W.D

inaj

pu

r)-B

ang

lad

esh

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

28/0

7/20

1133

.3°N

76.0

°E21

4.4

Dis

tric

t K

ish

twar

, J &

K

09/0

8/20

1122

.8°N

86.5

°E5

3.4

W.B

.(Pu

ruliy

a) -

Jhar

khan

d(J

amsh

edp

ur)

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

12/0

8/20

1111

.1°N

79.1

°E33

3.5

Ari

yalu

r, Ta

mil

Nad

u

13/0

8/20

1123

.3°N

70.2

°E33

4.0

Kac

hch

h R

egio

n, G

uja

rat

28/0

8/20

1125

.9°N

69.8

°E15

3.5

Paki

stan

- In

dia

(Dis

tt. B

arm

er) B

ord

er R

egio

n

04/0

9/20

1125

.2°N

94.3

°E20

4.2

Ukh

rul,

Man

ipu

r

11/0

9/20

1123

.3°N

70.2

° E5

3.4

Kat

chch

h R

egio

n,G

uja

rat

18/0

9/20

1127

.7°N

88.2

°E10

6.8

Sikk

im--

Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

18/0

9/20

1127

.6°N

88.5

°E16

5.0

Ind

ia(S

ikki

m)-

-Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

18/0

9/20

1127

.5°N

88.4

°E9

4.5

Ind

ia(S

ikki

m)-

-Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

18/0

9/20

1127

.6°N

88.4

°E28

4.2

Ind

ia(S

ikki

m)-

-Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

19/0

9/20

1118

.0°N

76.7

°E05

3.9

Latu

r, M

ahar

ash

tra

21/0

9/20

1130

.9°N

78.3

°E10

3.1

Utt

arka

shi D

ist.,

Utt

aran

chal

22/0

9/20

1123

.7°N

94.9

°E12

84.

8M

yan

mar

22/0

9/20

1127

.6°N

88.4

°E30

3.9

Sikk

im

23/0

9/20

1124

.4°N

93.8

°E33

4.5

Imp

hal

24/0

9/20

1130

.9°N

78.3

°E10

3.0

Utt

arka

shi D

ist,

Utt

aran

chal

24/0

9/20

1134

.1°N

75.2

°E42

4.3

Jam

mu

& K

ash

mir,

Ind

ia

27/0

9/20

1136

.7°N

76.7

°E84

4.9

Ind

ia (

Jam

mu

& K

ash

mir

) - C

hin

a B

ord

er R

egio

n

28/0

9/20

1110

.9°N

94.5

°E10

4.7

An

dam

an S

ea

11/1

0/20

1128

.3°N

94.1

°E5

3.6

Aru

nac

hal

Pra

des

h, I

nd

ia

11/1

0/20

1113

.9°N

93.8

°E10

4.9

No

rth

An

dam

an S

ea

| 150 |

IntroductionD

ate

Lat(

Deg

. N)

Lon

g(D

eg.E

)D

epth

(Km

)M

agn

itu

de

Reg

ion

12/1

0/20

1128

.2°N

76.0

°E6

3.5

Raj

asth

an(J

hu

njh

un

un

Dis

t)-H

arya

na(

Mah

end

rag

arh

Dis

t)B

ord

er

Reg

ion

13/1

0/20

1124

.0°N

91.5

°E10

3.7

Ind

ia(T

rip

ura

)- B

ang

lad

esh

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

17/1

0/20

1127

.3°N

88.4

°E5

3.5

Sikk

im

19/1

0/20

1116

.5°N

79.0

°E7

3.6

Nal

go

nd

a - M

ahb

ub

nag

ar D

ist.

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

, A.P

.

20/1

0/20

1121

.2°N

70.7

°E10

5.3

Dis

tric

t Ju

nag

adh

, Gu

jara

t

21/1

0/20

1124

.8°N

94.0

°E36

4.5

Imp

hal

,Man

ipu

r

26/1

0/20

1131

.5°N

76.8

°E5

3.5

Man

di,

Him

ach

al P

rad

esh

28/1

0/20

1114

.5°S

75.9

°W35

6.9

Nea

r Th

e C

oas

t O

f Cen

tral

Per

u

29/1

0/20

1127

.4°N

88.4

°E5

3.5

Sikk

im, I

nd

ia

30/1

0/20

1126

.9°N

92.3

°E5

3.6

Ass

am-A

run

ach

al P

rad

esh

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

05/1

1/20

1121

.4°N

85.8

°E10

3.7

Ken

du

jhar

gar

h, O

riss

a

06/1

1/20

1130

.6°N

80.3

°E10

3.8

Ind

ia (U

ttra

khan

d) -

Ch

ina

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

08/1

1/20

1126

.3°N

90.6

°E15

3.7

Bar

pet

a, A

ssam

08/1

1/20

1124

.7°N

94.2

°E60

3.7

Ukh

rul,

Man

ipu

r

11/1

1/20

1126

.7°N

89.4

°E15

3.8

Jalp

aig

uri

, Wes

t B

eng

al

12/1

1/20

1121

.1°N

70.5

°E10

4.3

Jun

agad

h, G

uja

rat

20/1

1/20

1130

.4°N

78.7

°E33

3.2

Utt

arka

shi,

Utt

rakh

and

21/1

1/20

1125

.1°N

95.3

°E80

5.8

Mya

nm

ar-I

nd

ia B

ord

er ,R

egio

n

24/1

1/20

1128

.8°N

77.0

°E10

2.5

Del

hi -

Har

yan

a B

ord

er R

egio

n

25/1

1/20

119.

7°N

76.9

°E10

3.2

Idu

kki,

Ker

ala

02/1

2/20

1107

.9°N

94.0

°E40

5.4

Off

Eas

t C

oas

t O

f Nic

ob

ar Is

lan

ds

05/1

2/20

1112

.6°N

93.2

°E33

4.5

Off

Eas

t C

oas

t O

f An

dam

an Is

lan

ds

06/1

2/20

1112

.3°N

92.0

°E10

4.8

An

dam

an Is

lan

ds

08/1

2/20

1128

.5°N

77.0

°E05

2.6

Del

hi -

Har

yan

a( S

on

epat

) Bo

rder

Reg

ion

09/1

2/20

1127

.9°N

88.2

°E33

3.7

Ind

ia (

Sikk

im) -

Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

12/1

2/20

1127

.3°N

92.6

°E33

3.4

Aru

nac

hal

Pra

des

h

13/1

2/20

1127

.3°N

88.6

°E5

2.9

Gan

gto

k,Si

kkim

13/1

2/20

1125

.2°N

91.5

°E20

3.5

Ind

ia(M

egh

alay

a)-B

ang

lad

esh

Bo

rder

Reg

ion


| 151 |

Dat

eLa

t(D

eg. N

)Lo

ng

(Deg

.E)

Dep

th(K

m)

Mag

nit

ud

eR

egio

n

14/1

2/20

1127

.7°N

88.0

°E50

4.5

Ind

ia(S

ikki

m) -

Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

14/1

2/20

1130

.5°N

79.3

°E5

3.2

Dis

tt C

ham

oli,

Utt

rakh

and

15/1

2/20

1125

.7°N

94.1

°E10

3.4

Ind

ia (A

ssam

) - N

agal

and

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

18/1

2/20

1124

.1°N

94.3

°E70

3.5

Ind

ia-M

yan

mar

Bo

rder

Reg

ion

18/1

2/20

1128

.0°N

88.2

°E35

3.7

Ind

ia (S

ikki

m)-

Nep

al B

ord

er R

egio

n

30/1

2/20

1126

.5°N

92.8

°E10

3.6

Ass

am, I

nd

ia

| 152 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix-V

-C

Eart

hq

uak

e d

ata

of S

ou

th A

sia-

20

11

As

reco

rded

by

Nat

ion

al S

eism

olo

gic

al C

entr

e, N

epal

Dat

eLa

titu

de

Lon

git

ud

eM

agn

itu

de

Epic

ente

r

18/0

1/20

1130

.03

81.9

74.

1H

um

la

18/0

1/20

1127

.885

.94

4.3

Bar

ahb

ise,

Sin

dh

up

alch

ok

13/0

2/20

1127

.47

87.0

14.

7B

oar

der

(Bh

ojp

ur,S

ankh

uw

asav

a)

22/0

2/20

1127

.57

87.0

14.

2B

akam

khar

ka,S

ankh

uw

asav

a

10/0

3/20

1128

.02

85.2

44.

3Sa

rsin

, Ras

uw

a

11/0

3/20

1128

.31

83.8

4.3

Hya

nja

, Kas

ki

12/0

3/20

1128

.31

83.7

84.

4H

yan

ja, K

aski

22/0

3/20

1128

.35

83.9

64

Lah

ach

ow

k, K

aski

22/0

3/20

1128

.11

82.7

44.

2G

oti

ban

g, P

yuth

an

04/0

4/20

1129

.92

80.5

45.

7C

hh

apri

,Dar

chu

la

04/0

4/20

1130

80.8

14.

1A

pih

imal

,Dar

chu

la

05/0

4/20

1129

.74

80.3

74.

1M

anal

bh

anjy

ang,

Dar

chu

la

07/0

4/20

1127

.93

85.6

14.

1Sa

rmat

han

,Sin

dh

up

alch

ok

03/0

6/20

1127

.688

.03

5.2

Kan

chan

jan

ga,

Tap

leju

ng

11/0

6/20

1128

.41

82.6

64.

2R

anag

au,R

olp

a

11/0

6/20

1128

.482

.55

4.1

Tala

ban

g,R

olp

a

13/0

6/20

1127

.186

.82

4.5

Dah

alg

au,K

ho

tan

g

17/0

6/20

1130

.24

81.4

84.

2W

est

Hu

mla

18/0

6/20

1127

.83

87.3

54.

3N

.San

khu

was

ava

15/0

7/20

1127

.28

87.3

4.5

S.Sa

nkh

uw

asav

a,D

istr

ict

29/0

7/20

1127

.19

86.7

64.

2K

ho

tan

g D

istr

ict

02/0

8/20

1127

.35

86.3

54

No

rth

ern

,Kh

ota

ng

09/0

8/20

1129

.981

.31

4.3

No

rth

ern

,Baj

han

g


| 153 |

Dat

eLa

titu

de

Lon

git

ud

eM

agn

itu

de

Epic

ente

r

15/0

8/20

1127

.44

86.2

75

East

,Ram

ech

hap

18/0

8/20

1128

.21

84.3

14

Du

rad

and

a,La

mju

ng

19/0

8/20

1129

.781

.34

4.9

Kan

gar

go

th, B

ajh

ang,

22/0

8/20

1128

.29

83.9

64

Lah

ach

ok,

Kas

ki

25/0

8/20

1128

.15

82.5

34.

4K

har

a, R

olp

a

27/0

8/20

1126

.94

86.6

4.2

Ud

ayap

ura

dh

i, U

day

apu

r

18/0

9/20

1127

.78

88.3

26.

8B

ord

er b

etw

een

Tap

leju

ng

& S

ikki

m

01/1

0/20

1130

.16

81.8

14.

7H

um

la

02/1

0/20

1129

.55

81.6

84.

2B

aju

ra

04/1

1/20

1128

.34

83.6

64

Parb

at

08/1

1/20

1127

.94

85.5

54.

1Si

nd

hu

pal

cho

wk

13/1

1/20

1128

.284

.93

5N

ort

hea

ster

n p

art

of G

ork

ha

19/1

1/20

1127

.786

.14.

1D

ola

kha

23/1

1/20

1128

.91

81.6

84.

2D

aile

kh

02/1

2/20

1128

.05

85.3

44.

2Sa

rsin

, Ras

uw

a

08/1

2/20

1127

.97

82.8

64

Pyu

than

09/1

2/20

1127

.83

88.1

34.

2N

ort

h o

f Tap

leju

ng

14/1

2/20

1127

.72

88.0

94.

9N

ort

h o

f Tap

leju

ng

18/1

2/20

1127

.73

88.1

64.

6N

ort

h o

f Tap

leju

ng

30/1

2/20

1129

.62

81.5

34

Baj

ura

| 154 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix-V

-D

Ear

thq

uak

e in

So

uth

Asi

a 2

00

1-2

01

1

SI

No

Loca

tio

n

Typ

e

Sub

-typ

e

Dat

e St

arti

ng

D

ate

End

ing

K

illed

To

t.

Aff

ecte

d

Est.

Dam

age

(US$

Mill

ion

)

Afg

han

ista

n

1Sa

mag

anEa

rth

qu

ake

( S

eism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e(

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)18

/04/

2010

18/0

4/20

1011

1070

2Sh

erza

d, H

esar

ak

( Nan

gar

h)

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Sei

smic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake(

G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

17/0

4/20

0917

/04/

2009

2233

09

3Em

am S

ahib

( K

un

du

z D

istr

ict)

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Sei

smic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

29/0

7/20

0629

/07/

2006

193

5

4H

ind

uku

shEa

rth

qu

ake

( S

eism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)13

/12/

2005

13/1

2/20

055

501

5N

ang

arh

ar, J

alal

abad

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Sei

smic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

18/1

0/20

0518

/10/

2005

10.

05

6Pa

ktia

Pro

vin

ceEa

rth

qu

ake

( S

eism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)18

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2004

18/0

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042

1040

7Ya

kab

agh

(Ta

khar

Pr

ovin

ce)

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Sei

smic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

10/0

4/20

0310

/04/

2003

110

01

8D

awab

i, K

ho

jake

der

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Sei

smic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

12/0

4/20

0212

/04/

2002

5061

50

9N

ahri

n (

Bag

hla

n P

rov-

ince

)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( S

eism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)25

/03/

2002

25/0

3/20

0210

0091

228

10D

akh

li-Ez

eu (H

ind

u-

Kush

)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)03

/03/

2002

03/0

3/20

0215

035

13

11Ja

bu

l Sar

aj, G

um

bah

arEa

rth

qu

ake

( S

eism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)01

/06/

2001

01/0

6/20

014

270


| 155 |

SI

No

Loca

tio

n

Typ

e

Sub

-typ

e

Dat

e St

arti

ng

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ate

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To

t.

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d

Est.

Dam

age

(US$

Mill

ion

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12Fa

izab

ad re

gio

n (B

ada-

khsh

)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)25

/02/

2001

25/0

2/20

01

Ban

gla

des

h

1H

afu

n, G

arag

's, B

ari,

Kar

...

Eart

hq

uak

e (s

eis-

mic

act

ivit

y)Ts

un

ami

26/1

2/20

0426

/12/

2004

250

0

2C

hit

tag

on

g-C

ox's

B

azar

-Ra

...Ea

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)27

/07/

2003

27/0

7/20

032

2525

Bh

uta

n

1Pa

ro –

Thim

ph

u R

egio

nEa

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)18

/09/

2011

18/0

9/20

111

2001

6

2M

un

gaa

r, Ta

shig

ang

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Seis

mic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

21/0

9/20

0921

/09/

2009

1112

Ind

ia

1Si

kkim

, Wes

t B

eng

al,

Bih

arEa

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)18

/09/

2011

18/0

9/20

1111

257

5200

2Ja

mm

u a

nd

Kas

hm

irEa

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

08/1

0/20

0508

/10/

2005

1309

1566

2210

00

3Ta

mil

Nad

u s

tate

, An

da-

man

...

Eart

hq

uak

e (s

eis-

mic

act

ivit

y)Ts

un

ami

26/1

2/20

0426

/12/

2004

1638

965

4512

1022

.8

4A

nd

aman

Isl.

(Go

lfe d

u

Be

...Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

14/0

9/20

0214

/09/

2002

220

0

5K

ach

ch-B

hu

j, A

hm

ed-

abad

, R ..

.Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

26/0

1/20

0126

/01/

2001

2000

563

2181

226

23

Mal

div

es

1Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Tsu

nam

i26

/12/

2004

26/1

2/20

0410

227

214

470.

1

Nep

al

1Sa

nkh

uw

asb

ha,

Tap

le-

jun

gEa

rth

qu

ake

( Se

ism

ic A

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e

( Gro

un

d-s

hak

ing

)18

/09/

2011

18/0

9/20

117

1172

13

| 156 |

IntroductionSI

N

oLo

cati

on

Ty

pe

Su

b -t

ype

D

ate

Star

tin

g

Dat

e En

din

g

Kill

ed

Tot.

A

ffec

ted

Es

t. D

amag

e (U

S$ M

illio

n)

Pak

ista

n

1B

alo

chis

tan

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Seis

mic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

18/0

1/20

1118

/01/

2011

210

00

2K

han

ozai

, Ro

d, M

ula

zai

Eart

hq

uak

e (

Seis

mic

Act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

( G

rou

nd

-sh

akin

g)

29/1

0/20

0829

/10/

2008

166

7532

010

3B

agh

, Mu

zzaf

arab

ad,

Poo

nc

...Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

08/1

0/20

0508

/10/

2005

7333

851

2830

952

00

4B

atta

gra

m, M

anse

hra

, K

oh

i ...

Eart

hq

uak

e (s

eis-

mic

act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

(gro

un

d

shak

ing

)14

/02/

2004

14/0

2/20

0424

1314

8

5D

ash

kin

, Doy

an, H

arch

u,

K ..

.Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

21/1

1/20

0221

/11/

2002

1914

0782

6Ta

ta P

ani,

Mu

that

, R

aiko

t ...

Eart

hq

uak

e (s

eis-

mic

act

ivit

y)Ea

rth

qu

ake

(gro

un

d

shak

ing

)02

/11/

2002

02/1

1/20

0217

1506

5

7Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Eart

hq

uak

e (g

rou

nd

sh

akin

g)

26/0

1/20

0126

/01/

2001

1291

4292

0.5

SRI L

AN

KA

1Ea

rth

qu

ake

(sei

s-m

ic a

ctiv

ity)

Tsu

nam

i26

/12/

2004

26/1

2/20

0435

399

1019

306

1316

.5

Sour

ce- E

MD

AT a

cces

sed

on 0

1 M

AY 2

012


| 157 |

Ap

pen

dix

-VI-

A

Lan

dsl

ide

Even

ts in

So

uth

Asi

a20

11

Sl. N

o.Ty

pe

of D

isas

ter

Occ

urr

ence

D

ate

Rep

ort

ing

Dat

eLo

cati

on

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ths

Inju

ries

Dam

age

& L

oss

Afg

han

ista

n

1 La

nd

slid

e/

Ro

ck

slid

e20

.02.

2011

21.0

2.20

11Ta

gab

Bes

t vi

llag

e o

f Jaw

and

dis

tric

t in

B

adg

his

pro

vin

ce

32

1La

nd

slid

e5.

04.2

011

7.04

.201

1Pa

rwaz

vill

age

of M

arm

al

dis

tric

t in

Bal

kh p

rovi

nce

Mo

re t

han

100

h

ou

ses

hav

e b

een

d

amag

ed

Ban

gla

des

h

1La

nd

slid

e/ E

arth

sl

ide

29.0

3.20

1130

.03.

2011

Shre

epu

r in

Gaz

ipu

r2

5

2La

nd

slid

e1.

07.2

011

3.07

.201

1B

atal

i hill

s, C

hit

tag

on

g17

3La

nd

slid

e9.

08.2

011

10-.0

8.20

11R

amja

di i

n B

and

arb

an2

2

4La

nd

slid

e/H

ill

slid

e14

.08.

2011

15-.0

8.20

11B

isw

a C

olo

ny

of P

ahar

tali

in C

hit

tag

on

g c

ity

22

5La

nd

slid

e22

.10.

2011

23.1

0.20

11D

han

mia

h P

ahar

are

a o

f R

ang

amat

i to

wn

11

6La

nd

slid

e/M

ud

sl

ide

7.12

.201

18.

12.2

011

Bijb

aru

a B

on

pu

r vill

age

nea

r Utm

a b

ord

er in

Co

m-

pan

ygan

j up

azila

1

Nep

al

1La

nd

slid

e04

.07.

2011

05.0

7.20

11K

aski

6

2La

nd

slid

e06

.07.

2011

07.0

7.20

11D

amau

li1

1

3La

nd

slid

e

15.0

7.20

11Ru

kum

13

| 158 |

IntroductionSl

. No.

Typ

e o

f Dis

aste

rO

ccu

rren

ce

Dat

eR

epo

rtin

g D

ate

Loca

tio

nD

eath

sIn

juri

esD

amag

e &

Lo

ss

4La

nd

slid

e20

.07.

2011

20.0

7.20

11K

aski

2

5La

nd

slid

e

02.0

8.20

11D

had

ing

30 c

attl

e h

erd

ers

mis

sin

g

6La

nd

slid

e03

.08.

2011

04.0

8.20

11R

olp

a3

2

7La

nd

slid

e13

.08.

2011

14.0

8.20

11C

hau

rikh

arka

-6 o

f So

-lu

khu

mb

u5

8La

nd

slid

e13

.08.

2011

14.0

8.20

11Po

khar

i Bh

anjy

ang

VD

C-1

Ta

nah

un

Dis

pla

ced

5 fa

mili

es

9La

nd

slid

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.09.

2011

07.0

9.20

11Ru

kum

7

10La

nd

slid

e14

.09.

2011

15.0

9.20

11A

cham

12

11La

nd

slid

e17

.09.

2011

17.0

9.20

11R

olp

a7

18

12La

nd

slid

e17

.09.

2011

18.0

9.20

11R

amec

hh

ap3

1

13La

nd

slid

e22

.09.

2011

23.0

9.20

11B

aglu

ng

514

14La

nd

slid

e18

.09.

2011

30.0

9.20

11G

ork

ha

Dis

pla

ced

12

fam

ilies

15La

nd

slid

e14

.10.

2011

15.1

0.20

11Jh

ula

VD

C1

16M

ud

slid

e15

.10.

2011

16.1

0.20

11Si

rah

a3

Pak

ista

n

1La

nd

slid

e05

.02.

2011

06.0

2.20

11K

arak

ora

n H

igh

way

, Bar

sin

Lan

dsl

ide

blo

ck K

ara-

kora

n H

igh

way

2La

nd

slid

e09

.02.

2011

10.0

2.20

11M

adra

za a

rea,

Ko

his

tan

Lan

dsl

ide

blo

ck K

ara-

kora

n H

igh

way

3La

nd

slid

e13

.02.

2011

14.0

2.20

11M

usl

im B

agh

2

Bo

th w

ere

Ch

ines

e n

atio

nal

s

4La

nd

slid

e

04.0

3.20

11Q

uet

ta1

2B

oth

wer

e C

hin

ese

nat

ion

als

5La

nd

slid

e11

.05.

2011

12.0

5.20

11G

ilgit

Blo

ck K

arak

ura

m

hig

hw

ay

6La

nd

slid

e30

.07.

2011

01.0

8.20

11G

ilgit

-Bal

tist

an

80

ho

use

s d

amag

ed

& 5

0 p

arti

ally

dam

-ag

ed


| 159 |

Sour

ce: D

ata

com

pile

d by

SD

MC

from

med

ia R

epor

ts&

EM

DAT

.

Sl. N

o.Ty

pe

of D

isas

ter

Occ

urr

ence

D

ate

Rep

ort

ing

Dat

eLo

cati

on

Dea

ths

Inju

ries

Dam

age

& L

oss

7La

nd

slid

e10

.10.

2011

10.1

0.20

11K

ahro

r Pak

ka, L

od

hra

n5

3

Sri L

anka

1La

nd

slid

e09

.01.

2011

09.0

1.20

11Th

alat

hu

oya

area

, R

ajas

-in

gh

a M

awat

ha,

Kan

dy

316

40 h

ou

ses

dam

aged

2La

nd

slid

e09

.01.

2011

11-1

0.01

.201

1K

and

y7

20

bu

ried

, bu

t o

nly

5 b

od

ies

reco

vere

d

3La

nd

slid

e/Ea

rth

sl

ip01

.02.

2011

04.0

2.20

11B

adu

lla1

4La

nd

slid

e08

.02.

2011

10.0

2.20

11Pu

nch

i Rat

tota

5 h

ou

ses

des

troy

ed

| 160 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix- V

IB

Ava

lan

che

Even

ts in

So

uth

Asi

a20

11

Sl.

No.

Typ

e o

f Dis

aste

rO

ccu

rren

ce

Dat

eR

epo

rtin

g D

ate

Loca

tio

nD

eath

sIn

juri

esD

amag

e &

Lo

ss

Afg

han

ista

n

1A

vala

nch

e8.

02.2

011

9.02

.201

1Sh

eeka

y d

istr

ict

of B

adak

hsh

an

pro

vin

ce1

2

2A

vala

nch

e

18.0

2.20

11Sa

ng

Tak

hat

dis

tric

t o

f Dai

-ku

nd

ee p

rovi

nce

235

7 re

sid

enti

al h

ou

ses

wer

e d

estr

oyed

Nep

al

1A

vala

nch

e24

.03.

2011

26.0

3.20

11La

ng

tan

g2

15

ho

use

s d

amag

ed

2A

vala

nch

e

06.0

6.20

11La

ng

tan

g2

1

Jap

anes

e

3A

vala

nch

e11

.11.

2011

12.1

1.20

11So

lukh

um

bh

u2

2

Ko

rean

nat

ion

als

Pak

ista

n

1A

vala

nch

e13

.02.

2011

14.0

2.20

11K

oh

ista

n3

7

2A

vala

nch

e20

.07.

2011

21.0

7.20

11La

kki M

arw

at

70

0 g

oat

die

d

3A

vala

nch

e

17.0

8.20

11Sk

ard

u

9

po

rter

bu

ried

Sour

ce: D

ata

com

pile

d by

SD

MC

from

med

ia R

epor

ts&

EM

DAT

.


| 161 |

Ap

pen

dix

-VII-

A

Epid

emic

s in

So

uth

Asi

a20

11

Co

un

try

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tio

nTy

pe

Sub

Typ

eN

ame

Star

t E

nd

Kill

edTo

t. A

ffec

ted

Mal

div

es

Epid

emic

Vir

al In

fect

iou

s D

isea

ses

Den

gu

e00

/06/

2011

28/0

6/20

114

1289

Sri L

anka

Wes

tern

pro

vin

ceEp

idem

icV

iral

Infe

ctio

us

Dis

ease

sD

eng

ue

00/0

1/20

1102

/12/

2011

167

2634

3

So

urce

-EM

DAT

acc

esse

d on

3 S

epte

mbe

r 201

2

| 162 |

IntroductionA

pp

end

ix-V

II-B

Epid

emic

s in

So

uth

Asi

a-2

01

1 a

s co

mp

iled

by

Pro

MED

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Afg

han

ista

n

Afg

han

ista

nG

haz

ni

A

cute

dia

r-rh

oea

l syn

-d

rom

e

30/0

8/20

11A

s o

f 24

Au

g 2

011,

an

ou

tbre

ak o

f acu

te d

iarr

ho

ea re

po

rted

w

ith

mo

re t

han

100

0 ca

ses

in c

entr

al G

haz

ni p

rovi

nce

.

Afg

han

ista

n

A

cute

dia

r-rh

oea

l syn

-d

rom

e

16/0

2/20

11D

uri

ng

wee

k 52

in 2

010,

a to

tal o

f 10,

486

even

ts d

ue

to a

cute

d

iarr

ho

ea w

as r

epo

rted

.

Afg

han

ista

nZ

abu

l (Z

abo

l)

Ch

ole

ra23

/06/

2011

An

ou

tbre

ak o

f ch

ole

ra w

as re

po

rted

in s

ou

ther

n Z

abu

l pro

v-in

ce w

ith

84

case

s an

d 1

4 d

eath

s.

Afg

han

ista

nK

and

ahar

C

ho

lera

17/0

6/20

11A

n o

utb

reak

of c

ho

lera

was

rep

ort

ed in

So

uth

ern

Afg

han

i-st

an, w

ith

sev

eral

th

ou

san

d c

ases

rep

ort

ed in

Kan

dah

ar

Prov

ince

alo

ne.

80

per

cen

t o

f cas

es a

re c

hild

ren

un

der

five

.

Afg

han

ista

n

M

easl

es16

/02/

2011

104

susp

ecte

d c

ases

of m

easl

es w

ere

rep

ort

ed, o

f wh

ich

92

case

s w

ere

con

firm

ed b

y la

bo

rato

ry te

stin

g

Afg

han

ista

nB

alkh

M

enin

git

is16

/02/

2011

112

susp

ecte

d c

ases

of m

enin

git

is w

ere

rep

ort

ed fr

om

all

reg

ion

s. Th

e in

cid

ence

rate

was

hig

hes

t fr

om

Bal

kh.

Ban

gla

des

h

Ban

gla

des

hR

ajsh

ahi

A

nth

rax

24/0

8/20

1116

peo

ple

infe

cted

wit

h a

nth

rax

at K

hir

shin

Ban

gla

des

hK

hu

lna

Meh

erp

ur

dis

tric

tA

nth

rax

19/0

7/20

1139

peo

ple

wer

e in

fect

ed w

ith

an

thra

x in

Meh

erp

ur d

istr

ict,

Kh

uln

a.

Ban

gla

des

hPa

bn

a an

d S

iraj

gan

j

An

thra

x20

/06/

2011

As

of 1

7 Ju

n 2

011,

64

peo

ple

aff

ecte

d b

y th

e o

utb

reak

of

anth

rax.

Ban

gla

des

hPa

bn

a

An

thra

x8/

06/2

011

Thre

e p

eop

le w

ere

infe

cted

wit

h a

nth

rax

at S

hah

jad

pu

r U

paz

ila


| 163 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ban

gla

des

hPa

bn

a

An

thra

x3/

06/2

011

As

of 3

1 M

ay 2

011,

39

peo

ple

wer

e af

fect

ed b

y cu

tan

eou

s an

thra

x in

Pab

na

du

e to

pro

cess

ing

mea

t o

f a s

ick

cow

.

Ban

gla

des

hPa

bn

a

An

thra

x16

/05/

2011

Thre

e p

eop

le in

fect

ed w

ith

an

thra

x in

Pab

na

dis

tric

t, in

clu

d-

ing

on

e d

eath

.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Den

gu

e fe

ver

15/0

8/20

11A

su

dd

en in

crea

se in

den

gu

e ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

D

hak

a ci

ty d

uri

ng

Ju

l- A

ug

201

1. A

s o

f 11

Au

g 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 47

3 ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed.

Ban

gla

des

hLa

lmo

nir

hat

Ence

ph

alit

is7/

02/2

011

The

Inst

itu

te o

f Ep

idem

iolo

gy

Dis

ease

Co

ntr

ol a

nd

Res

earc

h

(IED

CR)

has

reve

aled

th

at t

he

cau

se o

f en

cep

hal

itis

cas

es in

R

ang

pu

r was

Nip

ah v

iru

s. A

s o

f 7 F

eb 2

011,

24

case

s an

d 1

7 d

eath

s h

ave

bee

n c

on

firm

ed.

Ban

gla

des

hR

ang

pu

rH

at-

iban

dh

aEn

cep

hal

itis

4/02

/201

1A

t le

ast

30 c

ases

of e

nce

ph

alit

is, i

ncl

ud

ing

17

dea

ths,

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Ran

gp

ur.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a, C

hu

adan

ga

and

Raj

shah

i

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)9/

09/2

011

A to

tal o

f 23,

889

com

mer

cial

farm

bir

ds

hav

e b

een

aff

ecte

d

by

the

late

st o

utb

reak

s o

f avi

an in

fluen

za (H

5N1)

in D

hak

a,

Ch

uad

ang

a an

d R

ajsh

ahi b

etw

een

21

Au

g 2

011

and

6 S

ep

2011

.

Ban

gla

des

hC

hu

adan

ga

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

1/09

/201

1A

su

spec

ted

ou

tbre

ak o

f avi

an in

fluen

za A

(H5N

1) h

as b

een

re

po

rted

in B

ang

lad

esh

. As

man

y as

21,

590

hen

s w

ere

culle

d

at a

po

ult

ry fa

rm in

Ch

uad

ang

a.

Ban

gla

des

h

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

26/0

7/20

11A

s o

f 21

Jul 2

011,

on

e th

ird

of t

he

cou

ntr

y's

farm

-rai

sed

ch

icke

ns

hav

e b

een

aff

ecte

d b

y th

e la

test

ou

tbre

ak o

f avi

an

influ

enza

(H5N

1). R

epo

rted

ly t

he

ou

tbre

aks

this

yea

r are

th

ree

tim

es h

igh

er t

han

th

e sa

me

per

iod

last

yea

r (20

10).

Ban

gla

des

hK

hu

lna

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

8/07

/201

1C

om

mer

cial

po

ult

ry fa

rms

in K

hu

lna

pro

vin

ce h

ave

bee

n

affe

cted

by

avia

n in

fluen

za (H

5N1)

vir

us.

231

case

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed o

n 2

2 Ju

n 2

011

a to

tal o

f 869

bir

ds

wer

e cu

lled

.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)21

/04/

2011

A to

tal o

f 600

0 p

ou

ltry

bir

ds

wer

e cu

lled

an

d 2

9 00

0 eg

gs

dam

aged

du

e to

ou

tbre

ak o

f avi

an in

fluen

za v

iru

s (H

5N1)

at

Kas

had

a vi

llag

e, D

hak

a.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)12

/04/

2011

The

Wo

rld

Hea

lth

Org

aniz

atio

n h

as c

on

firm

ed t

he

seco

nd

h

um

an c

ase

of A

vian

Influ

enza

in B

ang

lad

esh

.

| 164 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Ban

gla

des

h

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

18/0

3/20

11A

no

ther

cas

e o

f avi

an in

fluen

za h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

a 3

1 m

on

th-o

ld m

ale

fro

m D

hak

a o

n 1

5 M

ar 2

011.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)16

/03/

2011

A p

revi

ou

sly

rep

ort

ed h

um

an c

ase

of a

vian

influ

enza

in D

ha-

ka h

as b

een

co

nfir

med

by

hea

lth

au

tho

riti

es o

f Ban

gla

des

h.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)15

/03/

2011

A c

ase

of a

vian

influ

enza

A (H

5N1)

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in a

ch

ild fr

om

Dh

aka.

Ban

gla

des

hB

aris

al

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)8/

3/20

11O

utb

reak

s o

f avi

an in

fluen

za A

(H5N

1) h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Bar

isal

pro

vin

ce b

etw

een

16

- 17

Feb

201

1.

Ban

gla

des

hR

ajsh

ahi

Joyp

urh

at

and

C

hap

ain

-aw

abg

anj

dis

tric

ts

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)3/

3/20

11N

ew o

utb

reak

of a

vian

influ

enza

has

bee

n re

po

rted

Joy

-p

urh

at a

nd

Ch

apai

naw

abg

anj d

istr

icts

. At

leas

t 9,

065

po

ult

ry

wer

e cu

lled

an

d 1

0,23

5 eg

gs

des

troy

ed d

ue

to a

vian

influ

-en

za (H

5N1)

vir

us.

Ban

gla

des

hC

hit

tag

on

g, K

hu

lna,

R

ajsh

ahi a

nd

Syl

het

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

18/0

2/20

11B

etw

een

31

Jan

an

d 1

7 Fe

b 2

011,

do

mes

tic

bir

ds

hav

e b

een

af

fect

ed b

y av

ian

influ

enza

(H5N

1) in

pro

vin

ces

of R

ajsh

ahi,

Ch

itta

go

ng,

Kh

uln

a an

d S

ylh

et.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a an

d R

ang

pu

r

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)15

/02/

2011

Mo

re c

ases

of a

vian

influ

enza

H5N

1 h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

po

ult

ry fa

rms

of D

hak

a an

d R

ang

pu

r bet

wee

n e

nd

of J

an

2011

an

d 5

Feb

201

1. A

s o

f 13

Feb

201

1, o

utb

reak

s h

ave

bee

n re

solv

ed.

Ban

gla

des

h

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

4/2/

2011

A to

tal o

f 310

,678

cas

es o

f in

fluen

za A

H5N

1 h

ave

bee

n

rep

ort

ed in

bir

ds

thro

ug

ho

ut

the

cou

ntr

y.

Ban

gla

des

hD

hak

a

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)10

/1/2

011

On

1 J

an 2

011,

a n

ew o

utb

reak

of a

vian

influ

enza

A (H

5N1)

h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Dh

aka.

530

cas

es/d

eath

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed

in c

om

mer

cial

po

ult

ry fa

rm.

Ban

gla

des

hB

and

arb

an

Mea

sles

3/05

/201

1A

n o

utb

reak

of m

easl

es h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

so

uth

-eas

tern

B

ang

lad

esh

. 200

cas

es a

nd

20

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed s

o

far.

Ban

gla

des

h

N

ipah

vir

al

dis

ease

28/0

2/20

11Th

e In

stit

ute

of E

pid

emio

log

y D

isea

se C

on

tro

l an

d R

esea

rch

(IE

DC

R) h

as c

on

firm

ed o

ne

mo

re d

eath

du

e to

nip

ah v

iru

s.

Ban

gla

des

h

N

ipah

vir

al

dis

ease

21/0

2/20

11Tw

o m

ore

pat

ien

ts h

ave

die

d d

ue

to n

ipah

en

cep

hal

itis

.


| 165 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ban

gla

des

hD

inaj

pu

r, G

aib

and

ha,

Ku

rig

ram

, Ku

shti

a, L

al-

mo

nir

hat

, Nilp

ham

ari

and

Ran

gp

ur

N

ipah

vir

al

dis

ease

15/0

2/20

11A

cco

rdin

g to

med

ia re

po

rts,

Nip

ah e

nce

ph

alit

is h

ave

cau

sed

a

tota

l of 3

1 d

eath

s in

sev

en d

istr

icts

.

Ban

gla

des

hR

ang

pu

r an

d L

al-

mo

nir

hat

N

ipah

vir

al

dis

ease

7/02

/201

1Th

e In

stit

ute

of E

pid

emio

log

y D

isea

se C

on

tro

l an

d R

esea

rch

(IE

DC

R) h

as re

veal

ed t

hat

th

e ca

use

of e

nce

ph

alit

is c

ases

in

Ran

gp

ur w

as N

ipah

vir

us.

As

of 7

Feb

201

1, 2

4 ca

ses

and

17

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

co

nfir

med

.

Bh

uta

n

Bh

uta

nSa

mts

e

Rab

ies

25/0

2/20

11A

cat

has

bit

ten

sev

en p

eop

le in

Sam

tse

and

die

d t

her

eaft

er

wit

h s

usp

ecte

d ra

bie

s. A

ll p

erso

ns

bit

ten

by

the

cat

are

cur-

ren

tly

rece

ivin

g p

ost

-exp

osu

re ra

bie

s p

rop

hyl

axis

.

Ind

ia

Ind

iaPu

nja

b

Acu

te d

iar-

rho

eal s

yn-

dro

me

5/07

/201

146

cas

es o

f dia

rrh

oea

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

th

e R

op

ar

city

in t

he

pas

t w

eek.

Th

e o

utb

reak

has

rep

ort

edly

bee

n

cau

sed

by

po

or q

ual

ity

wat

er s

up

plie

d to

th

e re

sid

ents

.

Ind

iaW

est

Ben

gal

A

cute

feb

rile

sy

nd

rom

e1/

08/2

011

Du

rin

g t

he

pas

t th

ree

wee

ks m

any

peo

ple

hav

e b

een

ho

s-p

ital

ized

wit

h h

igh

feve

r in

Jam

shed

pu

r cit

y. A

cco

rdin

g to

m

edia

rep

ort

s, th

ere

are

30,0

00 c

ases

of u

nd

iag

no

sed

feb

rile

ill

nes

ses

and

th

e n

um

ber

is in

crea

sin

g e

very

day

.

Ind

iaO

riss

a

An

thra

x17

/06/

2011

As

of 1

54 J

un

201

1, t

he

ou

tbre

ak h

as s

pre

ad to

ten

mo

re v

il-la

ges

of O

riss

a. T

he

anth

rax

has

so

far a

ffec

ted

25

per

son

s.

Ind

iaO

riss

a

An

thra

x13

/06/

2011

12 p

eop

le h

ave

bee

n a

ffec

ted

by

anth

rax

at G

uch

ua

villa

ge

in O

riss

a d

ue

to c

on

sum

pti

on

of r

ott

en b

eef a

nd

po

rk.

Ind

iaJa

mm

u a

nd

Kas

hm

irB

aram

ulla

d

istr

ict

Ch

icke

np

ox21

/07/

2011

At

leas

t th

ree

doz

en c

hild

ren

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed il

l du

e to

th

e o

utb

reak

of c

hic

ken

pox

in n

ort

h K

ash

mir

's B

aram

ulla

d

istr

ict.

Ind

iaG

oa

C

hik

un

gu

nya

vi

rus

infe

ctio

n15

/08/

2011

Fro

m J

an to

12

Au

g 2

011,

291

peo

ple

wer

e te

sted

for c

hik

un

-g

un

ya v

iru

s in

fect

ion

s, o

f wh

ich

39

wer

e p

osi

tive

.

Ind

iaJh

arkh

and

C

hik

un

gu

nya

vi

rus

infe

ctio

n5/

08/2

011

Am

on

g 3

2 b

loo

d s

amp

les

of v

iral

feve

r pat

ien

ts fr

om

Jam

-sh

edp

ur,

wh

ich

wer

e se

nt

to t

hre

e se

par

ate

rese

arch

cen

tres

in

Ind

ia, e

igh

t sa

mp

les

hav

e b

een

test

ed p

osi

tive

for c

hik

un

-g

un

ya v

iru

s.

| 166 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Ind

iaG

oa

C

hik

un

gu

nya

vi

rus

infe

ctio

n12

/01/

2011

In t

he

first

wee

k o

f Jan

201

1, 1

3 ca

ses

of c

hik

un

gu

nya

vir

us

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in G

oa.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

C

ho

lera

15/0

8/20

11Fo

ur c

ases

of c

ho

lera

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Kas

turb

a H

osp

ital

in t

he

pas

t w

eek.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

Mu

mb

aiC

ho

lera

5/08

/201

1O

ne

case

has

bee

n te

sted

po

siti

ve fo

r ch

ole

ra in

Mu

mb

ai.

Ther

e h

as b

een

a 2

5 p

er c

ent

incr

ease

in t

he

nu

mb

er o

f dia

r-rh

oea

cas

es a

mo

ng

ch

ildre

n t

his

yea

r.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Sara

jC

ho

lera

12/0

7/20

11A

s o

f 8 J

uly

201

1 66

cas

es o

f ch

ole

ra h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

Mu

mb

aiC

ho

lera

5/07

/201

1Tw

o s

usp

ecte

d c

ases

of c

ho

lera

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

ch

ildre

n fr

om

Mu

mb

ai.

Ind

iaK

eral

aW

ayan

ad

dis

tric

tC

ho

lera

5/07

/201

111

4 p

eop

le h

ave

bee

n a

dm

itte

d in

th

e se

vera

l ho

spit

als

in

Way

anad

dis

tric

t w

ith

sym

pto

ms

of c

ho

lera

.

Ind

iaH

arya

na

Yam

u-

nan

agar

d

istr

ict.

Ch

ole

ra19

/04/

2011

As

of 5

Ap

r 201

1, 2

6 ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

ree

vi

llag

es o

f Yam

un

a n

agar

dis

tric

t.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

Pun

eC

ho

lera

31/0

1/20

11Tw

o c

ases

of c

ho

lera

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Pu

ne.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

C

ho

lera

19/0

1/20

1112

cas

es o

f ch

ole

ra h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in c

hild

ren

of

Mu

mb

ai c

ity.

In t

he

pas

t tw

o w

eeks

an

oth

er 2

00 p

eop

le h

ave

sou

gh

t m

edic

al t

reat

men

t w

ith

dia

rrh

oea

.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Meh

san

a d

istr

ict

Cri

mea

n

Co

ng

o h

aem

-o

rrh

agic

feve

r

31/0

5/20

1142

peo

ple

wh

o h

ad c

om

e in

co

nta

ct w

ith

a d

ecea

sed

pat

ien

t w

ith

Cri

mea

n-C

on

go

hem

orr

hag

ic fe

ver (

CC

HF)

are

un

der

su

rvei

llan

ce in

Meh

san

a d

istr

ict.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Ah

med

-ab

adC

rim

ean

C

on

go

hae

m-

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

1/03

/201

1A

s o

f 10

Feb

201

1, o

ut

of 2

98 b

loo

d s

amp

les

of c

ases

/co

n-

tact

s se

nt

for l

abo

rato

ry te

stin

g, n

ine

sam

ple

s h

ave

bee

n

test

ed p

osi

tive

for C

rim

ean

Co

ng

o h

aem

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

(CC

HF)

, in

clu

din

g fo

ur d

eath

s.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Ah

-m

edeb

adC

rim

ean

C

on

go

hae

m-

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

1/02

/201

1A

25

year

old

mal

e d

oct

or h

as b

eco

me

the

4th

vic

tim

to d

ie

of C

CH

F. H

e w

as a

n in

tern

at

a g

over

nm

ent

ho

spit

al. I

t is

no

t cl

ear w

het

her

he

had

co

nta

ct w

ith

th

e p

revi

ou

s vi

ctim

s


| 167 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Ah

med

-ab

adC

rim

ean

C

on

go

hae

m-

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

24/0

1/20

11A

furt

her

tw

o c

ases

of C

CH

F h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

, bri

ng

ing

th

e to

tal t

o fi

ve. T

he

mo

st re

cen

t ca

ses

wer

e a

con

tact

of t

he

init

ial c

ase,

an

d a

nu

rse

wh

o w

ork

ed in

th

e h

osp

ital

wh

ere

the

first

th

ree

pat

ien

ts w

ere

adm

itte

d. T

he

pre

sen

ce o

f CC

HF

viru

s h

as b

een

det

ecte

d in

tic

ks c

olle

cted

fro

m t

he

area

for

the

first

tim

e.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

C

rim

ean

C

on

go

hae

m-

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

19/0

1/20

11Th

ree

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

in w

este

rn In

dia

du

e to

Cri

mea

n

Co

ng

o h

aem

orr

hag

ic fe

ver.

A w

om

an fr

om

Ko

lat

villa

ge

of

San

and

Tal

uka

nea

r Ah

med

abad

was

ad

mit

ted

to a

ho

spit

al

in t

he

first

wee

k o

f Jan

201

1. T

wo

hea

lth

car

e p

rofe

ssio

nal

s in

volv

ed in

car

ing

of t

he

pat

ien

t, h

ave

also

die

d.

Ind

iaO

riss

a

Den

gu

e fe

ver

24/0

8/20

11A

s o

f 24

Au

g 2

011,

den

gu

e o

utb

reak

has

sp

read

to 2

1 d

istr

icts

in t

he

stat

e an

d m

ore

th

an 6

90 p

eop

le h

ave

bee

n

test

ed p

osi

tive

for d

eng

ue.

At

leas

t 20

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

in

the

stat

e.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra,

Tam

il N

adu,

Ker

ala,

Gu

jara

t an

d K

arn

atak

a

D

eng

ue

feve

r18

/08/

2011

As

of J

ul 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 221

8 ca

ses

of d

eng

ue

hav

e b

een

re-

po

rted

in In

dia

. 12

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

so

far t

his

yea

r. M

ost

of

the

case

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Tam

il N

adu

(733

), K

eral

a (5

91),

Gu

jara

t (2

03),

Mah

aras

htr

a (2

00) a

nd

Kar

nat

aka

(176

).

Ind

iaR

ajas

than

D

iph

ther

ia18

/07/

2011

Susp

ecte

d c

ases

of d

iph

ther

ia h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

fro

m

the

city

's J

K L

on

e H

osp

ital

in R

ajas

than

. On

e d

eath

an

d fo

ur

susp

ecte

d c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed.

Ind

iaU

ttar

Pra

des

hB

ahra

lch

d

istr

ict

Ence

ph

alit

is21

/09/

2011

A fu

rth

er in

crea

se in

th

e in

cid

ence

of a

cute

en

cep

hal

itis

has

b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Utt

ar P

rad

esh

. At

leas

t 61

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

an

d 6

62 h

osp

ital

ized

du

e to

en

cep

hal

itis

in t

he

last

ten

day

s.

Ind

iaA

ssam

, Bih

ar, T

amil

Nad

u, U

ttar

Pra

des

h

and

Wes

t B

eng

al

En

cep

hal

itis

15/0

9/20

11A

s o

f 13

Sep

201

1, c

on

firm

ed a

cute

en

cep

hal

itis

syn

dro

me

case

s in

Ind

ia h

ave

reac

hed

445

8 w

ith

584

dea

ths.

Of t

hes

e,

Utt

ar P

rad

esh

rep

ort

ed 1

782

case

s, A

ssam

(130

8), T

amil

Nad

u

(404

), W

est

Ben

gal

(341

) an

d B

ihar

288

cas

es a

nd

54

dea

ths.

Ind

iaB

ihar

En

cep

hal

itis

12/0

9/20

1113

60 c

ases

of a

cute

en

cep

hal

itis

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed t

his

ye

ar c

ou

ntr

ywid

e, 1

90 o

f wh

ich

wer

e fr

om

Bih

ar. 1

5 p

erce

nt

rise

in t

he

nu

mb

er o

f acu

te e

nce

ph

alit

is c

ases

has

bee

n

rep

ort

ed t

his

yea

r in

Bih

ar.

| 168 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Ind

iaU

ttar

Pra

des

h, B

ihar

an

d N

agal

and

En

cep

hal

itis

22/0

8/20

11C

ases

of a

cute

en

cep

hal

itis

an

d J

apan

ese

ence

ph

alit

is (J

E)

con

tin

ue

to b

e re

po

rted

wid

ely

in n

ort

hea

ster

n In

dia

. A to

tal

of 8

91 c

ases

wit

h 1

48 d

eath

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in U

ttar

Pr

ades

h, 1

50 c

ases

an

d 5

5 d

eath

s in

Bih

ar s

tate

. As

of 1

9 A

ug

201

1, 2

3 ca

ses

wer

e re

po

rted

fro

m N

agal

and

wit

h fi

ve

dea

ths.

Ind

iaU

ttar

Pra

des

hG

ora

kh-

pu

r an

d

Kush

i-n

agar

d

istr

icts

Ence

ph

alit

is20

/07/

2011

Sin

ce t

he

beg

inn

ing

of t

he

year

a to

tal o

f 626

peo

ple

hav

e b

een

ad

mit

ted

to h

osp

ital

wit

h s

ymp

tom

s o

f en

cep

hal

itis

. Of

thes

e 10

1 w

ere

susp

ecte

d J

apan

ese

ence

ph

alit

is. G

ora

khp

ur

and

Ku

shin

agar

are

th

e w

ors

t af

fect

ed d

istr

icts

.

Ind

iaA

ssam

Siva

sag

ar

dis

tric

tEn

cep

hal

itis

22/0

7/20

1151

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied,

an

d 2

26 o

ther

s h

ave

bee

n a

ffec

ted

by

ence

ph

alit

is a

nd

alli

ed d

isea

ses

in A

ssam

sin

ce J

uly

201

1. O

f th

e 51

dea

ths,

31 w

ere

Jap

anes

e en

cep

hal

itis

cas

es. S

ivas

agar

d

istr

ict

is t

he

wo

rst

affe

cted

wit

h 1

00 c

ases

an

d 2

1 d

eath

s.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hG

ora

-kh

pu

r, D

eori

a,

Kush

ina-

gar

, Bas

ti,

Sid

dh

ar-

than

agar

, Sa

nt

Kab

ir N

a-g

ar a

nd

M

ahar

aj-

gan

j.

Ence

ph

alit

is7/

7/20

11In

crea

sed

nu

mb

er o

f cas

es o

f acu

te e

nce

ph

alit

is a

nd

Jap

a-n

ese

ence

ph

alit

is (J

E) h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Utt

ar P

rad

esh

co

mp

ared

to p

revi

ou

s ye

ar. A

s o

f 5 J

ul 2

011,

th

ere

wer

e 45

0 ca

ses

of a

cute

en

cep

hal

itis

syn

dro

me

wit

h 7

7 d

eath

s. Th

ere

are

20 J

E ca

ses

wit

h t

hre

e d

eath

s. Th

e w

ors

t af

fect

ed d

istr

icts

b

y ac

ute

en

cep

hal

itis

, are

Go

rakh

pu

r wit

h 1

11 c

ases

an

d 2

1 d

eath

s, fo

llow

ed b

y D

eori

a (1

09 c

ases

an

d 1

5 d

eath

s) a

nd

Ku

shin

agar

(103

cas

es a

nd

22

dea

ths)

. JE

case

s h

ave

also

b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

th

ese

thre

e d

istr

icts

alo

ng

wit

h B

asti

, Si

dd

har

than

agar

, San

t K

abir

Nag

ar a

nd

Mah

araj

gan

j.

Ind

iaB

ihar

En

cep

hal

itis

22/0

6/20

11A

s o

f 20

Jun

201

1, t

he

nu

mb

er o

f dea

ths

has

incr

ease

d to

26

. Jap

anes

e en

cep

hal

itis

vir

us

is t

he

susp

ecte

d c

ause

of t

he

ou

tbre

ak.

Ind

iaB

ihar

Mu

zaf-

farp

ur

dis

tric

t

Ence

ph

alit

is20

/06/

2011

30 c

hild

ren

hav

e b

een

ad

mit

ted

to h

osp

ital

s in

Bih

ar w

ith

ac

ute

en

cep

hal

itis

an

d 1

7 h

ave

die

d in

th

e p

ast

two

wee

ks.


| 169 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ind

iaJh

arkh

and

Fo

od

po

iso

n-

ing

21/0

4/20

1149

cas

es o

f fo

od

po

iso

nin

g h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in J

har

-ka

nd

sta

te. S

avo

ry s

nac

ks (c

haa

t) fr

om

a ro

adsi

de

ven

do

r at

Dh

okh

ara

villa

ge,

hav

e b

een

imp

licat

ed in

th

e cu

rren

t o

utb

reak

.

Ind

iaD

elh

i

Foo

d p

ois

on

-in

g11

/4/2

011

Mo

re t

han

300

peo

ple

wer

e b

ein

g t

reat

ed in

ho

spit

als

acro

ss

Del

hi a

nd

on

e p

erso

n h

as d

ied

du

e to

co

nsu

mp

tio

n o

f ad

ul-

tera

ted

bu

ckw

hea

t. Th

e b

uck

wh

eat

has

bee

n d

istr

ibu

ted

in

east

an

d n

ort

hea

st D

elh

i.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

H

and,

foo

t an

d

mo

uth

dis

ease

4/1/

2011

Cas

es o

f han

d, fo

ot

and

mo

uth

dis

ease

(HFM

D) h

as b

een

re

po

rted

in c

hild

ren

fro

m N

agp

ur c

ity,

Mah

aras

htr

a st

ate.

Ind

iaPu

nja

b

Hep

atit

is (u

n-

spec

ified

)17

/01/

2011

354

case

s o

f hep

atit

is h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in B

ath

ind

a to

wn

, Pu

nja

b. T

he

infe

ctio

n s

ou

rce

is c

urr

entl

y b

ein

g in

vest

igat

ed.

Ind

iaPu

nja

bC

han

di-

gar

hH

epat

itis

A7/

7/20

11A

n in

crea

se in

hep

atit

is A

cas

e h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Ch

an-

dig

arh

du

e to

co

nta

min

ated

wat

er. C

ity-

bas

ed h

osp

ital

s ar

e re

po

rtin

g 5

0 ca

ses

of t

he

viru

s d

aily

.

Ind

iaK

eral

a

Hep

atit

is B

9/9/

2011

Alu

va a

nd

Par

avo

or d

istr

icts

hav

e re

po

rted

su

spec

ted

cas

es

of H

epat

itis

B.

Ind

iaTa

mil

Nad

uC

hen

nai

Hep

atit

is B

29/0

7/20

11A

t le

ast

on

e in

eve

ry 2

5 p

eop

le li

vin

g in

no

rth

Ch

enn

ai h

ave

test

ed p

osi

tive

for h

epat

itis

. A ra

nd

om

scr

een

ing

of 1

297

peo

ple

in s

ix d

iffer

ent

loca

tio

ns

of N

ort

h C

hen

nai

by

the

Mad

ras

Med

ical

Co

lleg

e sh

ow

ed 6

1 o

f th

em p

osi

tive

for

hep

atit

is. O

f th

ese,

44

wer

e p

osi

tive

for h

epat

itis

B.

Ind

iaPu

nja

b

Hep

atit

is C

26/0

7/20

11In

th

e vi

llag

e o

f Mar

hi M

egh

a, m

ore

th

an fo

ur c

ases

ofh

epat

i-ti

s C

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed w

ith

in a

sh

ort

per

iod

of t

ime.

Ind

iaW

est

Ben

gal

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

20/0

9/20

11O

n 1

4 Se

p 2

011,

an

ou

tbre

ak o

f avi

an in

fluen

za o

utb

reak

has

b

een

rep

ort

ed in

rura

l bac

kyar

d p

ou

ltry

in W

est

Ben

gal

. A

tota

l of 2

285

case

s w

ith

849

dea

ths

rep

ort

ed.

Ind

iaA

ssam

In

fluen

za A

(H

5N1)

9/09

/201

1O

n 2

9 A

ug

201

1, a

n o

utb

reak

of a

vian

influ

enza

H5N

1 h

as

bee

n re

po

rted

in a

rura

l bac

kyar

d p

ou

ltry

. A to

tal o

f 143

6 b

ird

s h

ave

bee

n a

ffec

ted

.

| 170 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Ind

iaTr

ipu

raA

gar

tala

d

istr

ict

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)23

/03/

2011

New

cas

es o

f avi

an in

fluen

za c

on

tin

ue

to b

e re

po

rted

in

Trip

ura

. Sin

ce 4

Mar

201

1, a

tota

l of 1

0,55

0 su

spec

ted

cas

es

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Ag

arta

la p

ou

ltry

farm

, of w

hic

h 3

80

hav

e b

een

lab

ora

tory

co

nfir

med

cas

es.

Ind

iaTr

ipu

ra

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)8/

03/2

011

Sin

ce 1

Mar

201

1, fr

esh

cas

es o

f avi

an in

fluen

za h

ave

bee

n

rep

ort

ed in

th

e G

and

hi G

ram

gov

ern

men

t p

ou

ltry

farm

, w

este

rn T

rip

ura

.

Ind

iaTr

ipu

ra

Influ

enza

A

(H5N

1)18

/02/

2011

On

16

Feb

201

1, In

dia

n h

ealt

h a

uth

ori

ties

hav

e re

po

rted

an

ou

tbre

ak o

f avi

an in

fluen

za in

a p

ou

ltry

an

d d

uck

farm

lo

cate

d in

Tri

pu

ra s

tate

.

Ind

iaH

arya

na

Ja

pan

ese

ence

ph

alit

is12

/10/

2010

348

case

s o

f Jap

anes

e en

cep

hal

itis

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed.

Ind

iaK

arn

atak

a

Kyas

anu

r fo

r-es

t d

isea

se31

/05/

2011

11 c

ases

of t

ick-

bo

rne

vira

l fev

er (K

yasa

nu

r fo

rest

dis

ease

) h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in S

him

og

a.

Ind

iaB

ihar

Le

ish

man

iasi

s - v

isce

ral (

Kal

a A

zar)

22/0

7/20

11A

tota

l of 1

1,74

8 p

eop

le h

ave

bee

n t

reat

ed fo

r Kal

a A

zar i

r B

ihar

so

far t

his

yea

r. 32

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

.

Ind

iaG

uja

rat

Vals

ad

and

-N

avsa

ri

dis

tric

ts

Lep

tosp

iro

sis

30/0

8/20

11Th

ere

has

bee

n a

n in

crea

se in

lep

tosp

iro

sis

case

s in

Gu

jara

t w

ith

a to

tal o

f 228

cas

es a

nd

46

dea

ths.

The

dis

ease

was

re-

po

rted

for t

he

first

tim

e w

ith

in c

ity

limit

s in

so

uth

Gu

jara

t as

it

sp

read

s m

ost

ly in

rura

l are

as. T

he

mo

st re

cen

t d

eath

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Val

sad

an

d N

avsa

ri d

istr

icts

.

Ind

iaK

arn

atak

a

Lep

tosp

iro

sis

11/7

/201

1Th

e fir

st e

ver c

ase

of l

epto

spir

osi

s h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

th

e B

elg

aum

dis

tric

t. Th

e in

div

idu

al is

rece

ivin

g t

reat

men

t in

h

osp

ital

.

Ind

iaH

arya

na

Yam

u-

nan

agar

d

istr

ict.

Mal

aria

2/9/

2011

An

ou

tbre

ak o

f mal

aria

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in Y

amu

na

Nag

ar

dis

tric

t. 29

00 m

alar

ia c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

e p

ast

on

e m

on

th.

Ind

iaD

elh

i

Mal

aria

20/0

7/20

11A

n o

utb

reak

of m

alar

ia h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Del

hi w

ith

53

case

s, w

hile

on

ly 1

3 ca

ses

rep

ort

ed in

th

e sa

me

per

iod

last

ye

ar (2

010)

.


| 171 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hH

yder

-ab

adM

alar

ia20

/06/

2011

As

of 1

9 Ju

n 2

011,

145

cas

es o

f mal

aria

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed

in H

yder

abad

. Th

e h

igh

est

nu

mb

ers

of c

ases

hav

e b

een

re-

po

rted

fro

m B

anja

ra H

ills

and

Bh

ola

kpu

r in

Mu

shee

rab

ad.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

M

alar

ia2/

6/20

11A

n in

crea

se in

mal

aria

cas

es h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Mah

aras

h-

tra

stat

e. F

rom

Jan

to A

pr 2

011,

28,

400

case

s h

ave

bee

n re

-p

ort

ed in

th

e st

ate,

co

mp

ared

wit

h 2

0,09

1 ca

ses

for t

he

sam

e p

erio

d in

201

0. T

he

hig

hes

t in

cid

ence

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Mu

mb

ai w

ith

16,

833

case

s an

d 1

1 d

eath

s, fo

llow

ed b

y Th

ane

(709

cas

es) a

nd

Kal

yan

(182

cas

es).

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

Mu

mb

aiM

alar

ia7/

4/20

1118

5 p

eop

le a

re re

po

rted

to h

ave

die

d in

th

e st

ate

bet

wee

n

Mar

to A

pr 2

011.

Of t

he

185

dea

ths,

Mu

mb

ai a

lon

e ac

cou

nte

d

for 1

37. A

tota

l of 1

38,6

05 c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

e st

ate

bet

wee

n 2

010

and

201

1, c

om

par

ed w

ith

85,

435

case

s fo

r th

e sa

me

per

iod

in la

st y

ear.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hK

ham

-m

am

dis

tric

t

Mal

aria

18/0

3/20

11A

n in

crea

se in

mal

aria

cas

es h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

vill

ages

of

Bh

adra

chal

am d

ivis

ion

, Kh

amm

am d

istr

ict.

Du

rin

g J

an 2

011,

35

5 ca

ses

wer

e te

sted

po

siti

ve fo

r mal

aria

ou

t o

f th

e 24

,144

b

loo

d s

amp

les

take

n a

nd

311

cas

es in

Feb

201

1 o

ut

of t

he

25,3

60 b

loo

d s

amp

les

test

ed. T

he

mo

st a

ffec

ted

vill

age

is

Tula

sip

aka.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra

Mu

mb

aiM

alar

ia10

/1/2

011

Un

usu

ally

hig

h n

um

ber

s o

f cas

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Mu

mb

ai d

uri

ng

Dec

201

0. A

tota

l of 4

391

peo

ple

hav

e su

f-fe

red

fro

m d

isea

se in

Dec

201

1.

Ind

iaM

ahar

ash

tra,

Gu

jara

t, C

hh

atti

sgar

h, K

ar-

nat

aka

and

An

dh

ra

Prad

esh

M

alar

ia6/

1/20

11A

s o

f 30

Dec

201

0, a

n in

crea

se in

mal

aria

cas

es h

as b

een

re

po

rted

in In

dia

. Mo

st a

ffec

ted

sta

tes

are

Mah

aras

htr

a (1

24,8

60 c

ases

), C

hh

atti

sgar

h (1

18,5

00),

Gu

jara

t (5

8,99

6),

Kar

nat

aka

(41,

861)

an

d A

nd

hra

Pra

des

h (3

1,09

5).

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hH

yder

-ab

adM

easl

es5/

4/20

1134

5 ca

ses

of m

easl

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in t

he

last

th

ree

mo

nth

s.

Ind

iaTa

mil

Nad

uC

hen

nai

Pneu

mo

nia

4/5/

2011

An

ou

tbre

ak o

f pn

eum

on

ia h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed. T

he

nu

mb

er

of c

ases

bei

ng

rep

ort

ed a

t se

vera

l ch

ildre

n's

ho

spit

als

in

Ch

enn

ai c

ity.

| 172 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hK

ham

-m

am

Dis

tric

t

Rab

ies

27/0

7/20

11A

boy

has

die

d fo

llow

ing

th

e d

og

bit

e in

th

e K

ham

mam

d

istr

ict.

He

did

no

t re

ceiv

e p

ost

-exp

osu

re v

acci

ne

at t

he

Hyd

erab

ad g

over

nm

ent's

ho

spit

al, b

ut

rece

ived

tre

atm

ent

in t

he

pri

vate

ho

spit

al in

th

e n

ext

day

. Als

o h

e h

ad s

uff

ered

in

juri

es o

n h

is fa

ce.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

h

Rab

ies

1/7/

2011

The

first

rab

ies

dea

th h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

e V

isak

hap

at-

nam

, sea

po

rt o

n t

he

sou

th e

ast

coas

t o

f In

dia

. A p

erso

n h

as

bee

n b

itte

n b

y a

do

g.

Ind

iaTa

mil

Nad

uC

hen

nai

Rab

ies

7/7/

2011

An

incr

ease

in ra

bie

s ca

ses

asso

ciat

ed w

ith

do

gs

has

bee

n

rep

ort

ed in

Ch

enn

ai. A

t le

ast

20 p

eop

le h

ave

die

d in

th

e ci

ty

wit

h ra

bie

s in

th

e fir

st s

ix m

on

th o

f 201

1. G

ener

al h

osp

ital

s in

Ta

mil

Nad

u re

po

rted

12

dea

ths

du

e to

rab

ies

in 2

010.

Ind

iaTa

mil

Nad

u

Rab

ies

21/0

4/20

1115

hu

man

dea

ths

du

e to

rab

ies

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Ch

en-

nai

in t

he

first

fou

r mo

nth

s o

f 201

1.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

h

Rab

ies

25/0

5/20

11A

ho

rse

has

bit

ten

five

peo

ple

an

d in

jure

d o

ther

s at

Ban

gla

v-al

asa

villa

ge,

An

dh

ra P

rad

esh

. Rep

ort

edly

, th

e h

ors

e h

as b

een

in

fect

ed w

ith

rab

ies

viru

s.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hEa

st

Go

dav

ari

dis

tric

t

Rab

ies

23/0

5/20

11A

cco

rdin

g to

med

ia re

po

rts,

ano

ther

man

die

d fr

om

rab

ies

follo

win

g t

he

bit

e o

f a s

tray

do

g. H

e d

id n

ot

rece

ive

po

st-

exp

osu

re v

acci

ne.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

hEa

st

Go

dav

ari

dis

tric

t

Rab

ies

16/0

5/20

11A

s o

f 16

May

201

1, fo

ur h

um

an d

eath

s o

f rab

ies

hav

e b

een

re

po

rted

in E

ast

Go

dav

ari d

istr

ict

as a

resu

lt o

f do

g b

ites

. A

sho

rtag

e o

f th

e an

ti-r

abie

s va

ccin

es h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

e d

istr

ict

ho

spit

als

du

rin

g A

pr 2

011.

Ind

iaM

izo

ram

Lun

gle

i d

istr

ict

Rab

ies

8/4/

2011

At

leas

t te

n p

erso

ns

hav

e b

een

bit

ten

by

susp

ecte

d ra

bid

d

og

s in

Lu

ng

lei t

ow

n, S

ou

th M

izo

ram

. Th

ere

are

rep

ort

s th

at

Mez

ora

m d

og

s b

ein

g ra

ised

for m

eat.

Ind

iaA

nd

hra

Pra

des

h

Rab

ies

4/01

/201

132

peo

ple

hav

e re

ceiv

ed p

ost

-exp

osu

re a

nti

-rab

ies

pro

ph

y-la

xis

afte

r bei

ng

att

acke

d b

y a

stra

y d

og

in M

irch

i Co

mp

ou

nd

ar

ea.

Ind

iaN

agal

and

Sc

rub

typ

hu

s (T

suts

ug

amu

-sh

i dis

ease

)

19/0

9/20

11A

n o

utb

reak

of s

cru

p t

yph

us

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in n

ort

h-

east

ern

par

t o

f In

dia

, Nag

alan

d w

ith

nin

e ca

ses

and

th

ree

dea

ths.


| 173 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Ind

iaH

imac

hal

Pra

des

hM

and

i d

istr

ict

Scru

b t

yph

us

(Tsu

tsu

gam

u-

shi d

isea

se)

16/0

3/20

11M

ore

th

an 2

00 p

eop

le h

ave

bee

n in

fect

ed b

y sc

rub

typ

hu

s in

vi

llag

es o

f Jo

gin

der

nag

ar in

Man

di d

istr

ict.

Ind

iaB

ihar

U

nd

iag

no

sed

ill

nes

s22

/07/

2011

Sin

ce e

nd

of J

un

201

1, 5

4 ch

ildre

n h

ave

die

d fr

om

un

kno

wn

d

isea

se in

Mu

zaff

arp

ur.

Ind

iaO

riss

aM

al-

kan

gir

i d

istr

ict

Un

dia

gn

ose

d

illn

ess

19/0

5/20

11A

n u

nkn

ow

n d

isea

se h

as a

ffec

ted

eas

tern

Ind

ian

sta

te

Ori

ssa'

s M

alka

ng

iri d

istr

ict

killi

ng

at

leas

t 16

per

son

s, in

clu

d-

ing

14

child

ren

. Sym

pto

ms

incl

ud

ed lu

mp

s o

n m

ou

th a

nd

o

ther

par

ts o

f th

e b

od

y.

Mal

div

es

Mal

div

es

A

cute

dia

r-rh

oea

l syn

-d

rom

e

4/01

/201

1A

n o

utb

reak

of a

cute

dia

rrh

oea

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in t

he

no

rth

ern

isla

nd

s o

f th

e M

ald

ives

.

Mal

div

es

D

eng

ue

feve

r13

/09/

2011

The

nu

mb

er o

f pat

ien

ts a

dm

itte

d a

t th

e h

osp

ital

s fo

r tre

at-

men

t o

f den

gu

e h

as in

crea

sed

ove

r th

e la

st t

hre

e w

eeks

. As

of 1

3 Se

p 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 242

1 ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed

wit

h e

leve

n d

eath

s.

Mal

div

es

D

eng

ue

feve

r5/

07/2

011

Sin

ce t

he

beg

inn

ing

of t

he

year

, 128

9 ca

ses

hav

e b

een

re

po

rted

. Th

is re

pre

sen

ts a

sig

nifi

can

t in

crea

se in

inci

den

ce

rpo

rted

ove

r th

e sa

me

per

iod

in t

he

pas

t tw

o y

ears

. 18

per

ce

nt

of a

ll ca

ses

wer

e D

HF.

In t

he

last

tw

o w

eeks

, 145

new

ca

ses

wer

e re

po

rted

.

Mal

div

esH

aa A

lif a

nd

Mal

e

Den

gu

e fe

ver

30/0

6/20

11A

s o

f 29

Jun

201

1, a

n o

utb

reak

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in M

al-

div

es. A

fou

rth

den

gu

e d

eath

du

e to

DH

F h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed

in t

wo

day

s. M

any

of t

he

mo

st s

erio

us

case

s h

ave

affe

cted

ch

ildre

n. 3

00 c

ases

an

d fi

ve d

eath

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

the

first

tw

o m

on

th o

f th

e ye

ar.

Mal

div

es

D

eng

ue

feve

r10

/02/

2011

On

e d

eath

an

d 2

17 c

ases

of d

eng

ue

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed

sin

ce t

he

beg

inn

ing

of t

he

year

.

Mal

div

es

Co

un

try-

wid

eD

eng

ue

feve

r5/

01/2

011

As

of 2

8 D

ec 2

010,

a to

tal o

f 913

cas

es w

ith

tw

o d

eath

s re

-p

ort

ed. I

n 2

009,

th

ere

wer

e 77

3 d

eng

ue

case

s re

po

rted

fro

m

aro

un

d t

he

cou

ntr

y.

Nep

al

| 174 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Nep

al

A

cute

dia

r-rh

oea

l syn

-d

rom

e

14/0

1/20

11C

ases

du

e to

dia

rrh

oea

hav

e in

crea

sed

to 3

972.

A to

tal o

f 65

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed o

ver 2

9 d

istr

icts

th

rou

gh

ou

t th

e co

un

try

as o

f 31

Dec

201

0.

Nep

alB

agm

ati

C

ho

lera

8/07

/201

111

cas

es o

f ch

ole

ra h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in t

he

pas

t tw

o

wee

ks. M

any

oth

ers

hav

e b

een

ad

mit

ted

in d

iffer

ent

ho

spi-

tals

. Th

e p

atie

nts

are

fro

m K

riti

pu

r, Si

tap

aila

, Kal

anki

, Kal

op

ul

and

oth

er lo

cati

on

s o

f th

e ca

pit

al.

Nep

alN

aray

ani

Ch

itw

an

dis

tric

tD

eng

ue

feve

r18

/08/

2011

Sin

ce 1

6 A

pr 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 17

case

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Ch

itw

an d

istr

ict.

A to

tal o

f 735

den

gu

e ca

ses

and

fou

r dea

ths

wer

e co

nfir

med

in C

hit

wan

bet

wee

n A

pr 2

010

and

Ap

r 201

1.

Nep

alM

ahak

ali a

nd

Rap

tiK

an-

chan

pu

r d

istr

ict

Jap

anes

e en

cep

hal

itis

24/0

8/20

11A

s o

f 21

Au

g 2

011,

th

ree

dea

ths

of J

apan

ese

ence

ph

alit

is

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Kan

chan

pu

r dis

tric

t. A

no

ther

per

son

h

as d

ied

in J

ul 2

011

in D

ang,

Rap

ti z

on

e.

Nep

alJa

nak

pu

rM

aho

ttar

i d

istr

ict

Mea

sles

4/07

/201

1A

n o

utb

reak

of m

easl

es h

as a

ffec

ted

mo

re t

han

400

ch

ildre

n

in M

aho

ttar

i dis

tric

t.

Paki

stan

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

Acu

te d

iar-

rho

eal s

yn-

dro

me

30/0

8/20

11M

ore

th

an 3

00 p

eop

le a

re s

uff

erin

g fr

om

dia

rrh

oea

in t

he

Swat

Val

ley.

Th

e m

ost

aff

ecte

d is

Bah

rain

, Sw

at.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

Acu

te d

iar-

rho

eal s

yn-

dro

me

21/0

7/20

11D

iarr

ho

ea c

ases

co

nti

nu

e to

ris

e in

KPK

pro

vin

ce. 1

2 o

ut

of

21 re

po

rtin

g d

istr

icts

in K

PK h

ave

mo

re t

han

16

per

cen

t d

iar-

rho

ea c

ases

ou

t o

f to

tal c

on

sult

atio

ns

at t

he

pu

blic

hea

lth

fa

cilit

ies.

As

of 1

8 Ju

l 201

1, t

he

nu

mb

er o

f acu

te d

iarr

ho

ea

case

s h

as re

ach

ed 3

,391

,969

co

un

tryw

ide.

Als

o t

her

e h

ave

bee

n a

tota

l of 3

12,2

90 b

loo

dy

dia

rrh

oea

cas

es, s

ince

Au

g

2010

.

Paki

stan

Acu

te d

iar-

rho

eal s

yn-

dro

me

1/06

/201

1A

s o

f 30

May

201

1, t

he

nu

mb

er o

f acu

te d

iarr

ho

ea c

ases

has

re

ach

ed 2

,670

, 102

. Als

o t

her

e h

ave

bee

n a

tota

l of 2

50,2

44

blo

od

y d

iarr

ho

ea c

ases

, sin

ce A

ug

201

0.

Paki

stan

Acu

te d

iar-

rho

eal s

yn-

dro

me

18/0

2/20

11A

s o

f 18

Feb

201

1, t

he

nu

mb

er o

f acu

te d

iarr

ho

ea c

ases

has

re

ach

ed 1

,533

,814

cas

es. A

lso

152

,590

cas

es o

f blo

od

y d

iar-

rho

ea h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

.


| 175 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

Acu

te h

aem

or-

rhag

ic fe

ver

syn

dro

me

15/0

6/20

11Tw

o c

ases

of h

aem

orr

hag

ic fe

ver h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

fro

m

KPK

. Lab

ora

tory

inve

stig

atio

n is

sti

ll o

ng

oin

g.

Paki

stan

Aza

d K

ash

mir,

Bal

uch

-is

tan

, Pu

nja

b, S

ind

h

and

Kh

yber

-Pak

h-

tun

khw

a (K

PK)

A

cute

wat

ery

dia

rrh

oea

l sy

nd

rom

e

13/0

6/20

11B

etw

een

27

May

an

d 2

Ju

n 2

011,

cas

es o

f AW

D h

ave

bee

n re

-p

ort

ed fr

om

diff

eren

t p

arts

of P

akis

tan

. Sev

eral

sto

ol s

amp

les

wer

e co

llect

ed a

nd

test

ed p

osi

tive

for V

ibri

o C

ho

lera

e O

gaw

a in

Aza

d K

ash

mir,

Bal

uch

ista

n, P

un

jab,

Sin

dh

an

d K

PK

pro

vin

ces.

Paki

stan

Acu

te w

ater

y d

iarr

ho

eal

syn

dro

me

1/06

/201

1B

etw

een

20

to 2

6 M

ay 2

011,

42

new

cas

es w

ere

rep

ort

ed.

Paki

stan

Bal

uch

ista

n ,

Sin

dh

an

d P

un

jab

A

cute

wat

ery

dia

rrh

oea

l sy

nd

rom

e

5/05

/201

1In

Mar

an

d A

pr 2

011,

co

nfir

med

ou

tbre

aks

of A

WD

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

fou

r diff

eren

t d

istr

icts

of B

alu

chis

tan

, Si

nd

h a

nd

Pu

nja

b p

rovi

nce

s.

Paki

stan

C

ou

ntr

y-w

ide

Ch

ole

ra16

/08/

2011

As

of 8

Au

g 2

011,

ch

ole

ra c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

all

pro

vin

ces

of t

he

cou

ntr

y.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)M

anse

hra

d

istr

ict

Ch

ole

ra4/

08/2

011

As

of 4

Au

g 2

011,

th

ree

furt

her

cas

es o

f ch

ole

ra h

ave

bee

n

rep

ort

ed a

nd

hu

nd

red

s o

f oth

ers

are

suff

erin

g fr

om

gas

tro

-en

teri

tis

in d

iffer

ent

par

ts o

f Man

seh

ra d

istr

ict.

Als

o g

as-

tro

enet

riti

s ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

th

e n

eig

hb

ori

ng

d

istr

ict

of B

atta

gra

m.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)M

anse

hra

d

istr

ict

Ch

ole

ra12

/07/

2011

As

of 7

Ju

l 201

1 2

case

s o

f ch

ole

ra h

ave

bee

n c

on

firm

ed.

Paki

stan

Pun

jab

an

d S

ind

h

C

ho

lera

4/05

/201

1D

uri

ng

th

e A

pr 2

011,

ch

ole

ra c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

M

irp

urk

has

, Sin

dh

an

d in

Bah

awal

pu

r, Pu

nja

b.

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

Ch

ole

ra5/

04/2

011

Seve

ral s

usp

ecte

d c

ases

of c

ho

lera

are

un

der

inve

stig

atio

n in

Si

nd

h.

Paki

stan

Bal

uch

ista

n a

nd

Si

nd

h

C

rim

ean

C

on

go

hae

m-

orr

hag

ic fe

ver

21/0

9/20

11A

do

cto

r is

rep

ort

ed to

hav

e co

ntr

acte

d C

CH

F in

Qu

etta

, B

alu

chis

tan

Pro

vin

ce. T

his

follo

ws

the

ind

ex c

ase

of C

CH

F in

a

wo

man

fro

m A

fgan

ista

n, w

ho

cam

e to

Qu

etta

ho

spit

al fo

r tr

eatm

ent.

As

of 2

1 Se

p 2

011,

a to

tal o

f fo

ur c

ases

hav

e b

een

re

po

rted

in P

akis

tan

(tw

o in

Sin

dh

an

d t

wo

in B

alo

chis

tan

).

| 176 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Paki

stan

Pun

jab

D

eng

ue

feve

r5/

09/2

011

As

of 5

Sep

201

1, t

he

tota

l nu

mb

er o

f den

gu

e fe

ver c

ases

h

as in

crea

sed

to 3

335

in t

he

Lah

ore

cit

y, c

apit

al o

f eas

tern

Pu

nja

b p

rovi

nce

.

Paki

stan

Pun

jab,

Kh

yber

-Pak

-h

tun

khw

a (K

PK) a

nd

Si

nd

h

D

eng

ue

feve

r31

/08/

2011

Den

gu

e is

on

go

ing

in s

ever

al p

rovi

nce

s o

f Pak

ista

n. A

c-co

rdin

g to

med

ia re

po

rts,

the

nu

mb

er o

f den

gu

e ca

ses

has

re

ach

ed 7

62 in

Pu

nja

b, in

clu

din

g 6

81 c

ases

in L

aho

re. A

s o

f 22

Au

g 2

011,

138

den

gu

e ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Sin

dh

p

rovi

nce

th

is y

ear,

119

of w

hic

h w

ere

fro

m K

arac

hi.

Paki

stan

Pun

jab

D

eng

ue

feve

r16

/08/

2011

The

nu

mb

er o

f den

gu

e fe

ver c

ases

has

incr

ease

d in

Pu

nja

b

esp

ecia

lly in

th

e N

ort

her

n L

aho

re a

nd

th

e W

alle

d C

ity.

Sin

ce

Mar

201

1, 8

6 ca

ses

of d

eng

ue

feve

r hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

La

ho

re a

lon

e w

ith

on

e d

eath

(in

clu

din

g 4

4 in

th

e fir

st h

alf o

f A

ug

201

1).

Paki

stan

Pun

jab

D

eng

ue

feve

r15

/08/

2011

On

e d

eng

ue

dea

th h

as b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Raw

alp

ind

i cit

y.

At

leas

t fo

ur o

ther

su

spec

ted

cas

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

.

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

Den

gu

e fe

ver

9/08

/201

1A

t le

ast

fou

r den

gu

e fe

ver c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

K

arac

hi,

as o

f 9 A

ug

201

1.

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

an

d K

hyb

er-

Pakh

tun

khw

a (K

PK)

D

eng

ue

feve

r15

/06/

2011

Thre

e ca

ses

of d

eng

ue

hae

mo

rrh

agic

feve

r hav

e b

een

re-

po

rted

(in

clu

din

g o

ne

case

in S

ind

h a

nd

tw

o c

ases

in K

PK).

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

Den

gu

e fe

ver

21/0

4/20

11C

ases

of s

usp

ecte

d d

eng

ue

feve

r hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed b

y lo

cal h

osp

ital

s in

Kar

ach

i. M

ore

th

an 3

0 p

eop

le w

ith

den

gu

e sy

mp

tom

s h

ave

bee

n t

reat

ed in

th

e la

st fo

ur m

on

ths.

Paki

stan

Dip

hth

eria

18/0

2/20

11A

s o

f 18

Feb

201

1, t

he

nu

mb

er o

f dip

hth

eria

cas

es h

as in

-cr

ease

d to

70.

Paki

stan

Bal

uch

ista

n

Kh

uzd

ar

and

Zh

ob

d

istr

icts

Gas

tro

ente

riti

s7/

09/2

011

At

leas

t 60

pat

ien

ts, s

uff

erin

g fr

om

gas

tro

ente

riti

s, h

ave

bee

n

adm

itte

d to

ho

spit

als

in K

hu

zdar

. Tw

o p

erso

ns

hav

e d

ied

so

fa

r. A

lso

at

leas

t 30

0 p

eop

le a

re re

po

rted

ly s

uff

erin

g fr

om

g

astr

oen

teri

tis

in Z

ho

b d

istr

ict.

Bo

th d

istr

icts

hav

e b

een

se

vere

ly a

ffec

ted

by

rese

nt

rain

s an

d fl

oo

din

g.


| 177 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Paki

stan

Bal

uch

ista

n a

nd

Pu

nja

bQ

uet

ta,

Ch

akw

al,

Kh

ush

ab,

Mia

nw

ali

Leis

hm

ania

sis

- cu

tan

eou

s17

/03/

2011

An

incr

easi

ng

nu

mb

er o

f lei

shm

ania

sis

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed

in P

akis

tan

, sin

ce t

he

floo

din

g s

tart

ed in

Ju

l 201

0. In

Jan

201

1,

fou

r cas

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

fro

m Q

uet

ta, B

alo

chis

tan

. D

uri

ng

Feb

an

d M

ar 2

011,

301

cas

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Ch

akw

al, K

hu

shab

an

d M

ian

wal

i dis

tric

ts o

f Pu

nja

b.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)Lo

wer

Dir

d

istr

ict

Leis

hm

ania

sis

- cu

tan

eou

s7/

02/2

011

46 s

usp

ecte

d c

ases

of c

uta

neo

us

leis

hm

ania

sis

hav

e b

een

re

po

rted

in L

ow

e D

ir d

istr

ict.

Paki

stan

Mal

aria

10/0

3/20

11Th

e to

tal n

um

ber

of s

usp

ecte

d m

alar

ia c

ases

has

incr

ease

d

to 1

,037

,138

, sin

ce t

he

hea

vy ra

ins

star

ted

in J

ul 2

010.

Paki

stan

Mal

aria

11/0

1/20

11A

s o

f 10

Jan

201

1, a

tota

l of 7

17,4

47 c

ases

of s

usp

ecte

d

mal

aria

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed. B

etw

een

31

Dec

an

d 6

Jan

201

1,

hig

h m

alar

ia c

ases

co

nti

nu

e to

be

rep

ort

ed in

Pu

nja

b a

nd

Ja

ffar

abad

an

d K

ech

dis

tric

ts in

Bal

och

ista

n.

Paki

stan

Mea

sles

23/0

6/20

11B

etw

een

10

- 16

Jun

201

1, 7

7 n

ew c

ases

of m

easl

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

, bri

ng

ing

th

e to

tal n

um

ber

of c

ases

to 9

63.

Paki

stan

Isla

mab

ad, B

alu

ch-

ista

n ,

Pun

jab,

Sin

dh

an

d K

hyb

er-P

akh

-tu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

M

easl

es23

/05/

2011

Sin

ce D

ec 2

010

to 1

6 M

ay 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 756

co

nfir

med

ca

ses

of m

easl

es h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

wit

h 3

1 d

eath

s. 26

d

istr

icts

hav

e b

een

aff

ecte

d b

y o

utb

reak

s.

Paki

stan

Mea

sles

5/05

/201

1Fr

om

1 M

ar to

28

Ap

r 201

1, a

tota

l of 1

95 m

easl

es a

lert

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in P

akis

tan

.

Paki

stan

No

rth

ern

Are

asG

ilgit

Bal

-st

ista

nM

easl

es15

/02/

2011

Mea

sles

cas

es a

re o

n r

ise

in G

ilgit

Bal

stis

tan

. As

of 8

Feb

201

1,

287

case

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

fro

m D

iam

er, 1

8 ca

ses

fro

m

Gilg

it a

nd

26

case

s fr

om

Gh

izer

.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

) an

d B

alu

chis

tan

H

arip

ur

dis

tric

t, Si

bi d

is-

tric

t

Mu

mp

s10

/3/2

011

In F

eb 2

011,

tw

o s

epar

ate

ou

tbre

aks

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

d

iffer

ent

loca

tio

ns

of H

arip

ur d

istr

ict

wit

h 1

5 an

d 2

0 ca

ses

resp

ecti

vely

. An

oth

er s

usp

ecte

d c

ase

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Bal

uch

ista

n, S

ibi d

istr

ict.

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

, B

alu

chis

tan

, K

hyb

er-P

akh

tun

khw

a (K

PK) a

nd

No

rth

ern

A

reas

Pe

rtu

ssis

30/0

8/20

11O

utb

reak

s o

f per

tuss

is a

re o

ng

oin

g in

Sin

dh

, Bal

och

ista

n a

nd

K

PK p

rovi

nce

s. N

ort

her

n A

reas

(Gilg

it-B

alti

stan

) als

o re

po

rted

30

cas

es in

Au

g 2

011.

As

of w

eek

33, a

tota

l of 1

97 c

ases

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

Pak

ista

n.

| 178 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Paki

stan

Sin

dh

an

d K

hyb

er-

Pakh

tun

khw

a (K

PK)

Pe

rtu

ssis

29/0

3/20

1185

cas

es o

f su

spec

ted

per

tuss

is h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

am

on

g

child

ren

in S

wab

i (K

PK) a

nd

fro

m s

ix d

istr

icts

of S

ind

h -

Dad

u,

Gh

otk

i, H

yder

abad

, Kas

hm

ore

, Mir

pu

rkh

as, a

nd

Tan

do

Alla

Yar.

Paki

stan

Pun

jab

Tu

ber

culo

sis

20/0

6/20

11A

n in

crea

se in

tu

ber

culo

sis

has

bee

n re

po

rted

in P

akis

tan

. 10

,831

new

cas

es o

f tu

ber

culo

sis

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

35

dis

tric

ts a

cro

ss P

akis

tan

du

rin

g F

eb 2

011

(th

e n

um

ber

has

d

ou

ble

d c

om

par

ed w

ith

pre

vio

us

mo

nth

). Th

e Pu

nja

b p

rov-

ince

acc

ou

nte

d fo

r 86

per

cen

t o

f th

e re

po

rted

cas

es.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

Typ

ho

id fe

ver

13/0

6/20

11Se

ven

co

nfir

med

cas

es o

f typ

ho

id fe

ver w

ere

rep

ort

ed in

B

HU

Bas

su M

era,

KPK

. On

inve

stig

atio

n a

nd

act

ive

surv

eil-

lan

ce t

hre

e m

ore

cas

es h

ave

bee

n fo

un

d.

Paki

stan

No

rth

ern

Are

asG

ilgit

B

alti

stan

Typ

ho

id fe

ver

26/0

5/20

1116

cas

es o

f su

spec

ted

typ

ho

id fe

ver h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in

Gilg

it B

alti

stan

du

e to

co

nta

min

ated

wat

er s

ou

rces

.

Paki

stan

Kh

yber

-Pak

htu

nkh

wa

(KPK

)

Typ

ho

id fe

ver

14/0

4/20

1150

su

spec

ted

cas

es o

f typ

ho

id fe

ver a

re b

ein

g in

vest

igat

ed.

All

case

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed b

etw

een

1 to

7 A

pr 2

011

fro

m U

C

Dh

eri J

ula

gra

m a

rea.

Sri L

anka

Sri L

anka

Bat

tica

loa

A

cute

dia

r-rh

oea

l syn

-d

rom

e

15/0

2/20

11Fo

llow

ing

th

e h

eavy

rain

s an

d fl

oo

din

g, 1

4 ca

ses

of b

loo

dy

and

mu

cou

s d

iarr

ho

ea h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

in B

atti

calo

a.

Sri L

anka

Den

gu

e fe

ver

1/08

/201

1Sr

i Lan

ka h

as re

po

rted

th

e h

igh

est

nu

mb

er o

f den

gu

e ca

ses

of t

he

year

th

is m

on

th. D

uri

ng

Ju

l 201

1, a

tota

l of 3

639

case

s re

po

rted

, bri

ng

ing

th

e to

tal n

um

ber

of c

ases

in 2

011

to

13,8

87.

Sri L

anka

Co

lom

bo

an

d G

am-

pah

a

Den

gu

e fe

ver

23/0

6/20

11Si

nce

en

d o

f Ap

r 201

1, t

her

e h

as b

een

an

incr

ease

in d

eng

ue

case

s. A

s o

f 23

Jun

201

1, a

tota

l of 9

083

case

s w

ith

69

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed. O

f th

ese,

176

3 w

ere

rep

ort

ed in

Ap

r, 19

56 in

Ju

n a

nd

228

6 ca

ses

in M

ay 2

011.

Co

lom

bo

an

d G

am-

pah

a ac

cou

nte

d fo

r 341

3 an

d 1

113

case

s re

spec

tive

ly.

Sri L

anka

Den

gu

e fe

ver

3/05

/201

1A

s o

f 3 M

ay 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 447

2 ca

ses

of d

eng

ue

hav

e b

een

re

cord

ed w

ith

39

dea

ths.

Of t

hes

e 13

94 c

ases

wer

e re

po

rted

d

uri

ng

Ap

r 201

1. M

ost

of t

he

case

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed fr

om

C

olo

mb

o (1

485)

.


| 179 |

Co

un

try

Reg

ion

Loca

tio

nD

isea

seR

epo

rted

Dat

e (d

d/m

m/y

yyy)

Det

ails

Sri L

anka

Putt

alam

, Gam

pah

a an

d C

olo

mb

o

Den

gu

e fe

ver

1/03

/201

1A

s o

f 1 M

ar 2

011,

th

e n

um

ber

of d

eng

ue

case

s h

as in

crea

sed

to

172

2 w

ith

18

dea

ths.

The

maj

ori

ty o

f cas

es w

ere

rep

ort

ed

fro

m C

olo

mb

o (6

16),

Gam

pah

a (2

12) a

nd

Pu

ttal

am (1

18).

Sri L

anka

Co

lom

bo,

Gam

pah

a an

d P

utt

alam

D

eng

ue

feve

r14

/02/

2011

As

of 1

1 Fe

b 2

011,

110

5 ca

ses

and

13

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

re-

po

rted

. Hig

h n

um

ber

of c

ases

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Co

lom

bo

(383

), G

amp

aha

(134

) an

d P

utt

alam

(103

).

Sri L

anka

Putt

alam

Le

pto

spir

osi

s14

/09/

2011

Lep

tosp

iro

sis

is s

pre

adin

g in

th

e w

este

rn c

oas

t, C

hila

w

reg

ion

. A d

eath

had

alr

ead

y b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

th

e re

gio

n

wit

h o

ther

cas

es s

ho

win

g s

ymp

tom

s o

f th

e d

isea

se. I

t is

re

po

rted

th

at e

ntr

ance

of M

arad

anku

lam

a Ta

nk

(wat

er re

ser-

voir

) is

bei

ng

rest

rict

ed.

Sri L

anka

Kuru

neg

ala

and

G

amp

aha

Le

pto

spir

osi

s19

/08/

2011

So fa

r th

is y

ear 4

779

case

s o

f lep

tosp

iro

sis

hav

e b

een

re-

po

rted

in t

he

cou

ntr

y an

d 6

0 d

eath

s w

ere

amo

ng

th

em. T

he

hig

hes

t n

um

ber

of c

ases

, 138

6, w

as re

po

rted

fro

m K

uru

ne-

gal

a d

istr

ict.

Ten

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

in t

he

dis

tric

t d

ue

to t

he

dis

ease

. Th

e h

igh

est

nu

mb

er o

f dea

ths

was

rep

ort

ed fr

om

G

amp

aha

dis

tric

t w

her

e 11

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

an

d a

tota

l of

379

case

s h

ave

bee

n re

po

rted

.

Sri L

anka

Lep

tosp

iro

sis

14/0

3/20

11Th

e to

tal n

um

ber

of l

epto

spir

osi

s ca

ses

in S

rila

nka

has

in-

crea

sed

to 1

241

wit

h 1

1 d

eath

s. A

lmo

st h

alf o

f th

e re

po

rted

ca

ses

wer

e fr

om

Ku

run

egal

a (5

68).

Sri L

anka

Kuru

neg

ala,

An

ura

d-

hap

ura

an

d C

olo

mb

o

Lep

tosp

iro

sis

7/03

/201

1A

furt

her

incr

ease

in le

pto

spir

osi

s ca

ses

has

bee

n re

po

rted

d

uri

ng

th

e p

ast

wee

k. A

s o

f 4 M

ar 2

011,

a to

tal o

f 708

cas

es

and

11

dea

ths

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed in

th

e co

un

try.

Th

e m

ost

af

fect

ed d

istr

ict

rem

ain

s Ku

run

egal

a (2

24 c

ases

), fo

llow

ed b

y A

nu

rad

hap

ura

(55

case

s) a

nd

Co

lom

bo

(50

case

s).

Sri L

anka

Kuru

neg

ala

Le

pto

spir

osi

s2/

03/2

011

As

of 2

8 Fe

b 2

011,

th

e to

tal n

um

ber

of l

epto

spir

osi

s ca

ses

in

Sri L

anka

has

incr

ease

d to

488

. On

e m

ore

dea

ths

has

bee

n

rep

ort

ed. T

he

mo

st re

cen

t in

crea

se in

rep

ort

ed c

ases

oc-

curr

ed in

Ku

run

egal

a (7

3 ca

ses)

.

| 180 |

IntroductionC

ou

ntr

yR

egio

nLo

cati

on

Dis

ease

Rep

ort

ed D

ate

(dd

/mm

/yyy

y)D

etai

ls

Sri L

anka

An

ura

dh

apu

ra,

Co

lom

bo,

Gam

pah

a,

Keg

alla

, Rat

nap

ura

an

d K

uru

neg

ala

Le

pto

spir

osi

s25

/02/

2011

As

of 2

5 Fe

b 2

011,

th

e M

inis

try

of H

ealt

hca

re a

nd

Nu

trit

ion

o

f Sri

lan

ka h

as re

po

rted

a to

tal o

f 417

cas

es o

f lep

tosp

iro

sis

wit

h t

hre

e d

eath

s. Th

e m

ost

cas

es re

po

rted

fro

m C

olo

mb

o

(42)

, Ku

run

egal

a (4

1), R

atn

apu

ra (3

9) A

nu

rad

hap

ura

(32)

, G

amp

aha

(29)

an

d K

egal

le (2

5). S

o fa

r th

ree

peo

ple

hav

e d

ied

w

ith

lep

tosp

iro

sis.

Sri L

anka

An

ura

dh

apu

ra, K

i-lin

och

chi,

Mu

llait

tivu

, Po

lon

nar

uw

a an

d

Vavu

niy

a

Le

pto

spir

osi

s23

/02/

2011

Susp

ecte

d le

pto

spir

osi

s ca

ses

hav

e b

een

rep

ort

ed fr

om

flo

od

aff

ecte

d d

istr

icts

. Vav

un

iya

ho

spit

al h

as re

po

rted

eig

ht

case

s (in

clu

din

g o

ne

fro

m M

ulla

ttiv

u a

nd

on

e fr

om

Kili

no

ch-

ci).

An

ura

dh

apu

ra d

istr

ict

has

rep

ort

ed 2

5 ca

ses

and

an

oth

er

six

case

s w

ere

rep

ort

ed fr

om

Po

lon

nar

uw

a.

Sour

ce-N

thna

c o

utbr

eak

Repo

rt


| 181 |

Ap

pen

dix

-VIII

Man

-mad

e D

isas

ters

in S

ou

th A

sia

20

11

Co

un

try

Lo

cati

on

Ty

pe

Su

b T

ype

Star

t

End

N

ame

K

illed

To

t.

Aff

ecte

d

Est.

Dam

age

(US$

Mill

ion

)

Paki

stan

Bal

ou

chis

tan

Ind

ust

rial

Acc

iden

tEx

plo

sio

n20

/03/

2011

20/0

3/20

11C

oal

min

e43

Mis

cella

neo

us

acci

den

t

Ind

iaN

aisi

ng

par

aM

isce

llan

eou

s ac

-ci

den

tFi

re19

/03/

2011

19/0

3/20

11H

uts

1510

Ind

iaC

alcu

tta

Mis

cella

neo

us

ac-

cid

ent

Fire

9/12

/201

19/

12/2

011

Ho

spit

al89

90

Ind

iaH

arid

war

Mis

cella

neo

us

ac-

cid

ent

Oth

er8/

11/2

011

8/11

/201

1C

rush

1646

Ind

iaN

ew D

elh

iM

isce

llan

eou

s ac

-ci

den

tFi

re20

/11/

2011

20/1

1/20

11

1440

Ind

iaN

ear D

arje

el-

ing

Mis

cella

neo

us

ac-

cid

ent

Co

llap

se22

/10/

2011

23/1

0/20

11B

rid

ge

32

Ind

iaSa

bar

imal

a (K

eral

a st

ate)

...

Mis

cella

neo

us

ac-

cid

ent

Oth

er14

/01/

2011

14/0

1/20

11C

rush

100

75

Nep

al

Nep

alG

ork

ha

dis

tric

tM

isce

llan

eou

s ac

-ci

den

tC

olla

pse

22/1

0/20

1122

/10/

2011

Bri

dg

e42

4

Tran

spo

rt A

ccid

ent

Afg

han

ista

n

Afg

han

ista

nK

and

ahar

p

rovi

nce

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad20

/08/

2011

20/0

8/20

11

3524

Afg

han

ista

nH

esar

ak (B

alkh

p

rovi

nce

)Tr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tR

oad

14/0

5/20

1114

/05/

2011

21

Afg

han

ista

nZ

abo

ul

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad28

/04/

2011

28/0

4/20

11

2033

Ind

ust

rial

Acc

iden

t

| 182 |

Introduction

Sour

ce- E

mer

genc

y D

atab

ase(

EM-D

AT)C

entr

e fo

r res

earc

h on

Epi

dem

iolo

gy o

f Dis

aste

r(C

RED

),Bel

gium

Acc

esse

d on

Sep

tem

ber-

3,20

12.D

ata

vers

ion

:v12

.07

Co

un

try

Lo

cati

on

Ty

pe

Su

b T

ype

Star

t

End

N

ame

K

illed

To

t.

Aff

ecte

d

Est.

Dam

age

(US$

Mill

ion

)

Ban

gla

des

h

Ban

gla

des

hN

ear M

irer

sho

-ra

i (C

hit

tag

...

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad11

/7/2

011

11/7

/201

1

316

Ban

gla

des

h

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Wat

er21

/04/

2011

21/0

4/20

11Fe

rry

3220

Ind

ia

Ind

iaC

hen

nai

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Rai

l13

/09/

2011

13/0

9/20

11

1052

Ind

iaK

ansh

iram

na-

gar

(Utt

ar P

ra ..

.Tr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tR

oad

7/7/

2011

7/7/

2011

35

39

Ind

iaFa

teh

pu

r, n

ear

Luck

no

w (U

...

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Rai

l10

/7/2

011

10/7

/201

1

6810

02

Ind

iaK

amru

p d

istr

ict

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad30

/05/

2011

30/0

5/20

11

2810

Ind

iaFa

rid

abad

(n

ear D

elh

i)Tr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tA

ir26

/05/

2011

26/0

5/20

11

10

Ind

iaTw

ang

dis

tric

t (n

ear C

hin

...

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Air

19/0

4/20

1119

/04/

2011

Hel

ico

pte

r18

5

Ind

iaN

ear D

ehra

du

n

(Utt

arak

han

...

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad5/

1/20

115/

1/20

11

2219

Nep

al

Nep

alN

ear K

atm

an-

do

uTr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tA

ir25

/09/

2011

25/0

9/20

11B

eech

craf

t19

Nep

alSi

nd

hu

li d

is-

tric

tTr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tR

oad

13/1

0/20

1113

/10/

2011

43

Nep

alK

amal

a ri

ver

(Sir

aha)

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Wat

er16

/08/

2011

16/0

8/20

11

23

Pak

ista

n

Paki

stan

Lasb

ella

dis

-tr

ict

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad14

/08/

2011

14/0

8/20

11

1520

Paki

stan

Pen

ajb

reg

ion

Tran

spo

rt a

ccid

ent

Ro

ad26

/09/

2011

26/0

9/20

11

3055

Paki

stan

Mir

pu

rTr

ansp

ort

acc

iden

tR

oad

10/6

/201

110

/6/2

011

15

south asia disaster management report 2011

Documents