ACT Alert: Heavy Rains and Flash Floods Wreak Widespread Havoc in Andhra
Pradesh, India*

26 Jun 2007 09:27:00 GMT
Source: Action by Churches Together (ACT) - Switzerland
Elisabeth Gouel

Heavy Rains and Flash Floods Wreak Widespread Havoc

Geneva, 26 June 2007

Heavy rains triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal, have
wreaked havoc in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka, as
well as in Maharashtra and Assam, over the past four days. The death
toll has risen to over 150 and thousands are displaced according to
local media. The monsoon season that usually lasts from July to
September has come early this year. A further depression has been
forecast and more heavy rains are expected.

ANDHRA PRADESH: In Andhra Pradesh the worst affected areas are Guntur,
Kurnool, Prakasam, Kadapa, Rayalseema, Srikakulam, Nandyal, Karimnagar,
East Godavari, Mahaboobnagar and Hyderabad. It is estimated that 222
villages and more than 300,000 people have been badly affected.
According to an official government release at least 45 people have been
killed. Kurnool district was the worst affected with 21 deaths reported,
and the evacuation of 85,000 people who are currently taking shelter in
51 relief camps. Preliminary reports indicate that 9,799 houses have
been damaged and some 8,530 livestock killed. Communication facilities
are badly affected and several villages are cut off.

The Meteorological Office has forecast further heavy rainfall in
Telanagana, parts of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. The local
government officials in Coastal Andhra and Telanagana have been
instructed to take precautionary measures. The government at state,
district, and sub-district levels is monitoring the situation, and the
army and navy have been alerted to assist in rescue and relief operations.

KARANATAKA: Heavy rains particularly in the northern districts of
Bagalkot, Bijapur and Raichur have claimed 43 lives and rendered about
4,500 people homeless in the last two days. Eleven relief camps have
been opened in these districts to provide shelter. According to
preliminary estimates, more than 1,300 houses have suffered complete or
partial damage in the districts of Gulbarga, Bellary, Belgaum, Dakshina
Kannada and Gadag.

KERALA: More than 43 people have lost their lives. Electricity, traffic
and communications have been severely hit. The main affected areas are
Wayanad, Kollam, Kottayam, Pathth-anam-thitta, Kannur and Ernakulam.
More than four thousand people have been moved to safer places. However,
there should be some respite from the rains for the next two days.

Assessment and Response:

ACT member Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) is assessing the
situation and planning to respond in the Kurnool, Rayalseema, Nandyal,
and Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh state. CASA is also assessing
and planning a response in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, and
the Bagalkot, Bijapur and Bidar districts of Karnataka state.

CASA, working with the Church of South India, the Andhra Pradesh
Christian Council, Marthoma Church, and the Kerala Church Council based
in the affected areas, have identified the need for food, non-food items
and tarpaulins for temporary shelter. In addition, materials are needed
to repair schools and other damaged infrastructure.

The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) is assessing the
situation and planning to respond through their local member the Andhra
Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) located in the districts of Guntur
and Praksam of Andhra Pradesh state.

ACT member Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) is not planning any
response at this time.

The ACT members are coordinating their responses and expect that an ACT
Appeal proposal will be forthcoming in the next few days.