3. - usaid
Share Embed Flag
Download ePaper

3. - usaid

3. - usaid 3. - usaid

pdf.usaid.gov
from pdf.usaid.gov More from this publisher
26.12.2013 Views

PAKISTAN CHARA-STICS EVENT: OF THE DISASTERS Floods DATE-TIME : July-August & October, 1968 LOCATION : July-August all 17 districts of East; Pakistan October - 5 northern districts of East Pakistan DISASTER VICTm : Killed Injured Homeless Af -- fec.ted ( Combined July- Aug .-0ct. Floods) 221 100,000 878,724 14,910,892 DAMAGES : Huts/Homes Destroyed Homes Damaged Livestock Losses 195,519" 315,277" 2,277,046 cattle * * Dollar damage not available. Main and trunk roads severely damaged; bridges, pilings, embankments and tubewells destroyed or damaged - replacement cost estimated by the GOEP at 146,186,000 rupees, dollar equivalent about. . . . . . . . . . . $ 30,000,000 4 million acres of rice (1.4 million tons) damaged valued at 810,947,932 rupees with dollar equivdlent about. .............. . ). Estimated damage to public buildings. .,, ... . . $168,900,000 DESCRIFTION OF THE IIISASTERS July/August Floods Bay of Bengal Floods occur annually in East Pakistan-- a low lying land criss-crossed with scores of rivers, but the July floods in 1968 were said to be the worst in 20 years. Normal rainfall in the worst hit districts of Noakhali, Comilla, Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Chittagong ranges f'rom 19 to 20 inches for the whole month of July. This -185-

year these areas received from 19 to 23 inches in 48 hours. Late in July and early in August the situation worsened as flood waters f'rom the Indian States of Assam and West Bengal entered East Pakistan. Some 25 major rivers overflowed and engulfed surrounding areas. Finall-y, all 17 districts in East Pakistan were affected. Chittagong was cut off fkom the rest of the district, all connecting roads being under water. Transport was suspended for 5 to 7 days between Chittago& and Sylhet ~ist,ricts. It was reported that more than half the population of Chittagow; district had either taken shelter in camps or were gathered together along roadsides at railway tracks. Everywhere it was the same story of washed away crops, damaged or destroyed huts, collapsed bridges and breached roads. There was nothing to distinguish the rivers from the roads. Boats had to ply on most of the roads in the countryside as the only means of transport. Crop damages ranged from a 10% loss in some districts to 80% in others. Many people were killed, thousands injured and almost a million left homeless. They lost their livestock, crops and personal possessions. Many sought refuge by living in boats while others clung to trees and rooftops where they were often plagued by snakes that had also gone up there to keep dry. Tubewells were severely damaged and drinking water became an acute problern . Octobei? Floods In the fall of 1968, new floods struck East Pakistan as a result of heavy, continuous rains that also deluged the norStheastern portion of? India, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. In addition to the rain, flood waters poured down from west Bengal Road under water in municipal area of DinaJpur in India as they had in the Ju1.y floods causing rivers to burst their banks in East Pakistan. The October floods, while severe, were not as widespread as those that occurred in July. About 3,000 squ.are miles in five northern districts were inundated affecting about 2-1/'4 million people. There were at least 49 people killed. Crop loss or damage involved some 300,000 acres. All types of communications links in the flood areas were seriously impaired. There was about 75% damage to thatched houses and 20% to permanent housing.

PAKISTAN<br />

CHARA-STICS<br />

EVENT:<br />

OF THE DISASTERS<br />

Floods<br />

DATE-TIME : July-August & October, 1968<br />

LOCATION :<br />

July-August all 17 districts of East; Pakistan<br />

October - 5 northern districts of East Pakistan<br />

DISASTER VICTm : Killed Injured Homeless Af -- fec.ted<br />

( Combined July-<br />

Aug .-0ct. Floods) 221 100,000 878,724 14,910,892<br />

DAMAGES : Huts/Homes Destroyed Homes Damaged Livestock Losses<br />

195,519" 315,277" 2,277,046 cattle *<br />

* Dollar damage not available.<br />

Main and trunk roads severely damaged; bridges, pilings,<br />

embankments and tubewells destroyed or damaged -<br />

replacement cost estimated by the GOEP at 146,186,000<br />

rupees, dollar equivalent about. . . . . . . . . . . $ 30,000,000<br />

4 million acres of rice (1.4 million tons)<br />

damaged valued at 810,947,932 rupees with<br />

dollar equivdlent about. .............. . ).<br />

Estimated damage to public buildings. .,, ...<br />

. . $168,900,000<br />

DESCRIFTION OF THE IIISASTERS<br />

July/August Floods<br />

Bay of Bengal<br />

Floods occur annually in East Pakistan--<br />

a low lying land criss-crossed with<br />

scores of rivers, but the July floods<br />

in 1968 were said to be the worst in<br />

20 years. Normal rainfall in the worst<br />

hit districts of Noakhali, Comilla,<br />

Sylhet, Chittagong Hill Tracts and<br />

Chittagong ranges f'rom 19 to 20 inches<br />

for the whole month of July. This<br />

-185-

logo

products

Resources

Company

Terms of service
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Cookie settings
Imprint
Change language
Made with love in Switzerland
© 2024 Yumpu.com all rights reserved

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!