OCHA Situation Report No. 1
India - Floods
27 October 2005


This situation report is based on information received from the United 
Nations Resident Coordinator's office in New Delhi and the OCHA Regional 
Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok.

Situation

1. A deep depression developed over southwestern Bay of Bengal and has 
intensified into a cyclonic depression and is moving in a northwesterly 
direction. Under its influence, widespread heavy rainfall with strong 
wind with speeds of up to 65 km/h have occurred over southern States of 
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal and Orissa. Media reports claim that 
more than 100 people have died in five days of heavy rains and around 
50,000 people have been evacuated. Officials have warned that the 
depression could turn into a cyclonic storm.

Tamil Nadu State (Chennai)

2. Several low-lying areas of North Chennai, the capital, have been 
waterlogged. Traffic movement has been disrupted. Scheduled 
international and domestic flights have been diverted or delayed. Four 
thousand people have been evacuated to 250 temporary shelters. The State 
Government has closed schools and colleges in three districts of 
Chennai. Kirshnagiri District reported that 300 houses have been damaged 
and 1,500 acres of cultivable land has been flooded.

Karnataka State (Bangalore)

3. Three areas have been waterlogged. There are problems of access to 
drinking water and power failures. The South Western Railway has 
cancelled most of the Chennai-bound trains. The traffic police have 
requested people not to use their vehicles due to waterlogging in the 
city.

West Bengal State

4. Waterlogging of low-lying areas has affected 100,000 people in three 
districts. The State Government has released 1,200 MT of rice and 32,000 
pieces of tarpaulins.

Orissa State

5. One district was affected with road communication disruptions in a 
few places. The situation has improved in the District with no rains 
since 26 October. The State Government is closely monitoring the 
situation and is issuing necessary instructions. The District 
Administration initiated three days emergency relief. Measures to 
improve conditions of the health, veterinary, water and sanitation 
sectors have also been undertaken.

6. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident 
Coordinator in New Delhi and ROAP, and will revert with further 
information as required. This situation report, together with further 
information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA 
Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Ms. Masayo Kondo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1997
  Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-892 1679

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