United Church Response to Severe Flooding in India

Members of Action by Churches Together International are spearheading an emergency humanitarian response in India after several states were hit by deadly flash floods.

The states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka, as well as in Maharashtra and Assam, have been left in chaos after a depression over the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rains last week.

At least 150 people have been killed by the flooding and thousands more have been displaced.

The monsoon season, which usually lasts from July to September, struck uncommonly early this year, with more heavy rains expected.

In Andhra Pradesh, around 222 villages and more than 300,000 people are believed to have been badly affected by the rains. An official government release estimated the death toll to be at least 45. Kurnool district was the worst affected with 21 deaths reported. A further 85,000 people were evacuated from the area and are now currently taking shelter in 51 relief camps.

Preliminary reports indicate that 9,799 houses have been damaged and some 8,530 livestock killed, while communication facilities have also been badly affected and several villages remain cut off.

In Karanataka, heavy rains particularly in the northern districts of Bagalkot, Bijapur and Raichur claimed 43 lives and rendered about 4,500 people homeless in just two days. Thousands have poured into the eleven relief camps opened to provide shelter to the displaced.

More than 43 people have died in Kerala, meanwhile, where electricity, traffic and communications have been severely hit and more than four thousand people have been moved to safer places.

ACT member Churches Auxiliary for Social Action is assessing the situation and is planning to respond in the Kurnool, Rayalseema, Nandyal, and Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh state.

Further assessments have been carried out in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, and the Bagalkot, Bijapur and Bidar districts of Karnataka state in preparation for a flood response.

CASA is also working with the Church of South India, the Andhra Pradesh Christian Council, Marthoma Church, and the Kerala Church Council.

Together, they have identified the need for food, non-food items and tarpaulins for temporary shelter. Materials are also needed to repair schools and other damaged infrastructure and they are currently looking into the provision of the necessary reconstruction materials.

The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India is also assessing the situation and planning to respond through its local member the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church located in the districts of Guntur and Praksam of Andhra Pradesh state.

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