Flood Relief Report

Manuski Centre:

Report of the relief work after flood in Mumbai, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar

Due to deluge which lasted for 21 hours and recording over 900 mm, Mumbai and its nearby areas flooded with water. The loss was compounded by bad drainage system. Over a thousand of people lost their lives and several thousands lost their property. Many people drowned in the flood and died. Some people in Nehru Nagar, Juhu died in stampede followed by rumours of Tsunami and cyclone. In Sakinaka area alone, the landslide took hundreds of lives. Majority people who died are slum dwellers and mostly Dalits. The unofficial estimates of the dead would be more than 1000. The government machinery failed to respond and started working after agitation by the citizens after 4 days. Haresh Dalvi of Manuski Centre, who was in Mumbai during this whole turmoil, surveyed the situation by visiting the affected areas with Dinesh Dalvi.

He visited many places including highly affected areas in Mumbai, such as; Kurla, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Govandi and Mulund. According to primary survey, nearly 300 families lost all their belongings including their houses and more than 2000 families lost their life surviving belongings. Besides that many thousands were affected by flood. The situation around Mumbai was even worst. In Kalyan, Ulhasnagar , Ambivali and rural parts of Thane, the flood destroyed many lives and the death toll was heavy and beyond estimation. The loss of property is huge. It was reported that dead bodies, food grains and life essential commodities were floating on water in huge quantity for several hours. There was no electricity, no drinking water and no communication of any kind. The severity of the problems was mind boggling.

After assessing the situation, Manuski decided immediately to start relief operation. Manuski prepared a preliminary report based on survey. Lokamitra, President of the Jambudvipa Trust, alerted the Karuna Trust and friends in Taiwan who responded to the situation with commitment of helping in all possible ways. Manuski team also sent appeals to various agencies and individuals. In less than 24 hours, Manuski team was ready with its logistical plan and strategy to reach targeted population of Dalits and other deprived section that are often discriminated during such disasters.

The first batch of Manuski team left for Mumbai under the guidance of Haresh Dalvi and Sachin Bhagat. The other team members were: Kamlesh Kamble, Dhiraj Yeole, Vivekamitra, Avinash Borkar and Mallapa. After 5 days, the following members joined the Manuski team: Prashant Deshbhratar, Nitin salve, Priyadarshi Telang and Mangesh Dahiwale. Some relief material was purchased in Pune and most of the relief material was purchased in Mumbai which was a difficult task due to already worst situation in Mumbai. Dryan Kitchener of Karuna Trust also joined the team for a while.

The following relief material was distributed:

The Dhamma Kranti Mahavihar in Chunabhatti was the base camp for the relief operations. After holding several and continuous meetings with the local organizations, Manuski prepared a mode of carrying on relief work after need assessment. The local partners microscopically surveyed the areas and identified the beneficiaries in record breaking speed. The beneficiaries were categorized on the basis of damage due to flood in various different categories.

Manuski worked with different organizations at different places based on needs of particular areas.

The following table will explain this:

Manuski centre has networking in the affected area and therefore Manuski could very well coordinate the relief operations simultaneously at various places. Thus, Manuski relief operation reached nearly 3500 families, though initially it was targeted towards 2300 families. Manuski worked with schools, hospitals, local CBOs (Community Based Organizations), social and medical associations.

There were severe medical problems arising out of flood and toxicated contamination in the flood water in different areas. Therefore, Manuski teamed up with like minded medical professionals and associations in order to check the upcoming epidemic like situation. The medical relief camps acted as a preventive strategy and to cater to the needs of affected and injured people. The Medical Relief Camps were arranged on 6th-7th August 2005. More than 1500 flood affected people were treated during these camps.

The following table explains in brief:

The Teams consisted of following Doctors, Paramedicals and volunteers:

Base camp of relief activities:

Organization:

The Jambudvipa Trust
Plot no. 3
Survey No. 247/14B,
Deccan College Rd.,
Yerawada,
Pune 411006,
India.

Tel/fax 91-20-26696812/26698420
Email: info@jambudvipa.org

Website www.jambudvipa.org