In Asia and Pacific 1.7 billion people lack access to improved sanitation

In Asia and the Pacific, about 1.7 billion people still lack access to improved sanitation, 780 million people still practice open defecation, and around 80% of wastewater is discharged without treatment. The region needs a total of $71 billion in investments to meet the MDG sanitation target. 

(ADB in a release just now)

Good Morning Thought - 28th October 2013!

Cricket at Cuttack at time of a Disaster must be banned

Cricket is no entertainment?

Today's game of cricket is commerce, nothing else. Unfortunately, we call these cricketers 'stars' while in reality they just play to pocket money. No harm in that but a match today at Cuttack? Is it not inhuman to play a match of 'entertainment' at a moment when millions in the state are marooned by a cyclone and several floods? 

Where are the govt. orders banning 'jatra' (theaters) in cyclone and flood affected areas? Cricket at Cuttack today is not entertainment in official terms of the Revenue Divisional Commissioners who have banned jatras? Ironical, ain't it??

What is a more dangerous type of encroachment?

A multi crore scam ridden Chief Minister/Prime Minister/Minister/Officer in a public post?

Or,

A poor person who has encroached a few yards of public land for building a hut?

PHAILIN and After: latest update as on 25th October 2013

Around 1.20 crore people in 17 districts of Odisha were affected due to the twin calamity of cyclone and flood. At least 48 people have died so far, including 27 in the flood.

The flood has spread to 12 districts so far, officials said. The heavy downpour has disrupted road and rail traffic in several areas, affecting relief and restoration operation, they added.

At least 46 gram panchayats in six blocks of Ganjam have been inundated with floodwaters. Besides, many areas of neighbouring Gajapati and Kandhamal, too, came under water due to flooding in Bansadhara river.

The Met on Thursday predicted that the situation may worsen further as rain triggered by a low pressure over the Bay of Bengal would continue for another 48 hours.

The low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has resulted in incessant showers in several areas of Andhra Pradesh as well, with at least 12 rain-related deaths reported so far.

For details please see: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/flood-situation-worsens-in-odisha-andhra/article1-1139879.aspx

Good Morning Thought - 20th October 2013!

The first and foremost source of energy comes from within you. The type of attitude you carry determines its uses...

Good Morning!

Phailin Cyclone Update - 17th October 2013!

PHAILIN Update from Betanati in Mayurbhanj:

Budhabalanga river destroys its own creation, the rice bowl of Mayurbhanj. But fails to dampen the spirit of Dussehra Mela. So, even as hundreds of thousands of people are languishing in darkness and without food, water and shelter in it's immediate neighbourhood; Betanati is full of festivities with liquor, food and fun. A local even said Micro finance companies have given out loans to people to enjoy. One such company has even opened its theater shop for people to come and spend, obviously to keep them indebted further. It's very much possible that the youth of flood affected villages would also have fallen into this trap.

Wish the river had a better way to end insensitivity in humans...

Good Morning Thought - 17th October 2013!

A day's fasting will not kill; a death will not end life...

Good Morning!

@ Baripada, with flood victims.

PHAILIN Cyclone Update - 16th October 2013!

PHAILIN's first murder in an area where it has not reached officially:

Farmer Jadumani Pandey killed himself as PHAILIN induced rainfall destroyed all remaining crops that he could still save from drought. Ironically Pandey belongs to a place where Hirakud dam, for which his forefathers sacrificed their lands, ensures that industries don't suffer a drought of water supply for their productions and profit. He belongs to one of India's heavily mined zones which brings riches to the state. Obviously he is not a first order citizen of this country and I am sure the first thing officials will do is to ensure a report that establishes he didn't die due to crop failure but some other reasons.

Can Odisha govt and the centre treat him at par with other victims of PHAILIN and give him the compensation package declared? Or it would be happy fuelling another round of politics around 'regional discrimination'?

We certainly need answers and actions!

Eid Mubarak!

Truthfulness and simplicity need not be explained or proved.  It’s just that their takers are fast decreasing in a world where falsehood is considered a style statement, and being complex is smartness…

Good Morning!

&

Eid Mubarak!!

Good Morning Thought - 15th October 2013!

Each tree that has been cut has taken away some amount of vital life support system from the earth. Each gun that has been added has deprived some of life...

Good Morning!

PHAILIN Update from Baripada (a friend over phone just now @ 8.12 PM):

- 10000 households completely washed up in flood.

- 10 people have already died.
- Rescue operation completely failed. District administration has not reached.

- No food for water logged areas as yet. Only 1 boat was sent for rescue when the requirement was 10 boats. He informs there was instruction from higher official to get 10 boats but the sub-collector said there is no need.

- Health support completely absent.

- Many people are still hungry. No food has reached.

- There was no electricity for last two days. Now, only about 25 per cent has been restored.

- Market closed.

PHAILIN Update @ 08.00 PM on 14th October 2013:

The following are information received from Odisha government -

Cyclonic storm brings flood in Odisha. At present the State is under the spell of two disasters like Phailin storm and flood. 

Flood has affected 5 major districts namely Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Keonjhar. This situation has been reviewed by the Minister Revenue & Disaster management Sri Suryanarayan Patro in a high level meeting in secretariat conference hall today. Reviewing the situation the Minister has directed for augmenting the rescue and relief operations by engaging the ODRAF, NDRF, Army and Naval teams along with State Government machinery. The operations for air dropping of relief packets have been taken up on war footing. SRC Sri P.K.Mohapatra has said that air dropping works will start from today afternoon.

Review reveals that the Cyclone has caused heavy rainfall in different parts of Odisha more particularly, in above cited districts. The heavy rainfall at upper basins of Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha and Baitarani has caused flood in these rivers inundating 39 GPs in 4 blocks ( Remuna, Sadar, Jaleswar and Bhogarai) of Balasore District, 2 blocks ( Betanati and Badasahi ) of Mayurbhanj district, 3 blocks ( Korei, Jajpur and Dasarathpur) of Jajpur district and 2 blocks ( Bhadnadripokhari and Dhamanagar ) of Bhadrak district. The rivers like Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga Baitarani and Jalaka are flowing well above the danger level by 9 AM today. Around 3 lakh people have been surrounded by flood water in Balasore district. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner Dr Arabinda Padhee reached the affected areas in Balasore district for carrying on the rescue and relief operations.

The first hand information available shows that the recent cyclone and flood have affected 128 blocks, 1924 GPs, 15578 villages and 40 urban local bodies. Around 1 crore and 19 lakh people have been affected. Because of timely and large evacuation, the human causality has been limited to 21. As of now the reported animal casualty is 313 large animals, 419 small animals and more than 6000 birds. The crop in 4,37,723 hectors have been destroyed. Around 10,13, 647 people and 31,000 domestic animals have been shifted to flood/cyclone shelters and safe places.

(Source: Govt. of Odisha)

Warmer water temperatures will lead to greater level of mercury in fish: time to shun coal fired power plants!

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

For today's pick of my blog, I am sharing a news report by Darryl Fears published in 'washingtonpost'.  The report brings to us information on a first of its kind study that shows how warmer water temperatures will increase levels of mercury in fish.  Most of this mercury comes into our water from coal-fired power plants, mining and other such forms of industrial activities.  We cannot dissolve mercury from our food and the fact that the globe is warming is going to take us to a future laden with irrecoverable health risks.  

Our rush for coal is not only heating the local water and adding up to the global climate change, but also adding up to the mercury content in our life.  And this is just going to increase.  Consider a latest report by ADB that points out "Demand for coal in Asia and the Pacific will increase by 52.8% from 2010 to 2035, reaching 3,516.3 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2035". This means a huge increase in Carbon dioxite (CO2) emissions in these regions.  The same report says 'Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions in Asia and the Pacific as a whole will increase from 13,404.0 million tons of CO2 (Mt CO2 ) in 2010 to 22,112.6 Mt CO2 in 2035 at a growth rate of 2.0% per year'.  But remember, we are targetting at a two digit growth rate!  

It is high time we shun coal, replan our energy demand and generation situations and strategize for green sources of energy.

Hope you will find this relevant and send in your feedback/suggestions.

Thanks and regads,

Ranjan

=====================

Study links warmer water temperatures to greater levels of mercury in fish

By Darryl Fears, Monday, October 14

Under the watchful eyes of scientists, a little forage fish that lives off the southern coast of Maine developed a strangely large appetite.

Killifish are not usually big eaters. But in warmer waters, at temperatures projected for the future by climate scientists, their metabolism — and their appetites — go up, which is not a good thing if there are toxins in their food.

In a lab experiment, researchers adjusted temperatures in tanks, tainted the killifish’s food with traces of methylmercury and watched as the fish stored high concentrations of the metal in their tissue.

In a field experiment in nearby salt pools, they observed as killifish in warmer pools ate their natural food and stored metal in even higher concentrations, like some toxic condiment for larger fish that would later prey on them.

The observation was part of a study showing how killifish at the bottom of the food chain will probably absorb higher levels of methylmercury in an era of global warming and pass it on to larger predator fish, such as the tuna stacked in shiny little cans in the cupboards of Americans and other people the world over.

“The implication is this could play out in larger fish . . . because their metabolic rate is also increasing,” said Celia Chen, a professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and one of six authors of the study. 

“Methylmercury isn’t easily excreted, so it stays. It suggests that there will be higher methylmercury concentrations in the fish humans eat as well.”

Methylmercury is linked to high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart attacks in adults and slow neuro-behavioral development in children. A thousand tons of the contaminant drops onto oceans every year from power plant emissions, and more than 250 tons pour from the land into various waters as a result of deforestation.

Top predators on land and sea have higher levels of mercury because of their prey. It is hard for any organism to release the metal, causing it to accumulate, or biomagnify, as scientists say.

The study, “Experimental and Natural Warming Elevates Mercury Concentrations in Estuarine Fish,” was published in the journal PLOS One in April, and officials at Dartmouth called attention to it ahead of last week’s Minamata Convention on Mercury in Japan.

Delegates from 130 nations at the three-day convention that ended Friday met to sign a treaty that seeks to greatly limit emissions from coal-fired power plants from industrial nations, mining operations in Africa and other sources that pollute oceans.

Every U.S. state has issued fish consumption advisories for mercury, and there is a particular concern among states bordering the Gulf of Mexico over health risks related to eating seafood containing mercury.

In spite of these concerns, there was no U.S. delegation in Japan. A small U.S. contingent rushed there before the convention but was recalled to the United States when the federal government shut down, according to a report by Scientific American.

“No one from the U.S. is here and no one from the U.S. government will walk to the front of the room and sign the treaty in front of the global community,” Joseph DiGangi, an adviser at the International POPs Elimination Network, a group devoted to reducing toxic chemicals, or “persistent organic pollutants,” was quoted as saying.

A 2007 World Health Organization report warned that “eating contaminated fish and shellfish is the main source of methylmercury exposure” and that the metal cannot be cooked out. The WHO recommended that mercury should be “eliminated wherever possible” and that exposure should be reduced.

But the killifish study suggested a future of fish with higher levels of mercury in a warming world, not less.The list of sources that place mercury in the air and water is long. In addition to power plants and deforestation, there are industrial boilers, tooth fillings, car batteries, cosmetics, medical tools, vaccines and even some soaps.

“The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate, in both field and laboratory conditions, that methylmercury concentrations in killifish increase with temperature,” said the study’s lead author, Jennifer A. Dijkstra, a University of New Hampshire professor who was a researcher for the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maine when the killifish were observed between July 2009 and September 2010.

“This increase can be propagated up through the food web to fish that are consumed by humans, resulting in greater human exposure to methylmercury,” she said.

The other authors of the study were Kate L. Buckman of Dartmouth; Michele Dionne of the Wells research reserve; David W. Evans, a researcher for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research in Beaufort, N.C.; and Darren Ward, a researcher for the Department of Fisheries Biology at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif.

The scientists decided to measure outdoor temperatures in the pristine salt pools where killifish dwell in Maine and set temperatures in lab tanks at the research reserve that matched air and marine warming projections by the world’s top climate scientists.

They found six salt pools of about the same size in wetlands of the Little River estuary along the Gulf of Maine that had higher temperatures at different elevations.

Killifish in the field ate what they normally eat. In the lab they ate feed tainted with methylmercury. In both cases, they fed greedily in warmer water. Because of their higher metabolism, killifish did not gain weight, but they gained more metal than usual.

To determine that, the scientists collected the fish from the wild and labs using nets, then severed their little spines to euthanize them for tests.

Methylmercury accumulation in killifish in a salt pool where the water temperature reached 71 degrees was 400 percent higher than killifish in a pool with cooler water, 64 degrees, over four months of study ending in October 2010.

In the lab, methylmercury accumulation in killifish in tanks with the water temperature set at 80 degrees was 30 percent higher than those in water set at 59 degrees. But that study was shorter, 30 days each in March and May 2011.

“What it suggests is with increased temperature the uptake of methylmercury is going to be higher. . . . You can have higher contamination of fish tissue,” Chen said. “One of the most important effects will be the temperature effect.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/study-links-warmer-water-temperatures-to-greater-levels-of-mercury-in-fish/2013/10/13/c86d43c6-3113-11e3-9c68-1cf643210300_story_1.html

Preparing children for disasters is building a 'disaster resilient society'

On 13th October, as I went to chase the cyclone PHAILIN that was supposed to cross over the mighty Hirakud Dam's reservoir, Khushi, my ten year old daughter, said she would accompany me. She had thought a cyclone would be like a tornado as seen in Discovery channel. And, obviously was very much disappointed with just dark clouds, rains and mild winds. In fact, PHAILIN changed its path and later we realized it moved by the side of reservoir with a very less intensity. However, Khushi caught me up with lot of questions and has stirred up, innocently and unknowingly, a lot of thoughts in my mind over natural disasters. Are we really making our children educated about these disasters? Are we making them prepared? Are we not just involved in preparing them not to face disasters? Many more thoughts actually.... 

I realized, we need a child's innocence, an adult's quest and a community's action to build for us a 'disaster resilient world'....

Good Morning Thought - 15th October 2013!

It just needs a truthful and simple mind to worship God. Humans instead take the materialistic route. That's why during Dussehra, we find a competition in building pandals, more than anything else...

Good Morning!

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 01.30 PM on 13th October 2013

Latest Update from Water Initiatives Odisha!

The Super Cyclone PHAILIN has devastated Odisha.  Even though human casualties have been very limited due to the timely evacuation work, agriculture in the state has been completely doomed.  Following is the latest update in key points:

- Land fall occurred at about 9.15 PM on 12th October at Gopalpur coast and has devastated the coastal belt.  It has also affected the hinterlands and is now moving in the following direction

As per google crisis map, the cyclone is about to reach Sambalpur and then will move onto Chhatisgarh along Mahanadi, as per the following direction:

Dashpur - Bargaon - Talpadar - Reliance Petrol Pump at Goshala - Side of Jyoti Vihar - just above Hirakud reservoir's Power House and into the reservoir - Kurtipali - Patrapali - Reservoir - Singharpur - Hills - Keshar Jhima - Rakhasbudha - Khutnipali - Laubahal - Bildhipa - Jampali - Tangraghat - Nagarmuda - Jamgir - Lalpur - Kenapada - and more...

(At the moment it is at a distance of about 30 to 35 kilometers from Sambalpur and the wind speed is 100 - 110 kmph and gusting speed is more than 120 kmph)

Govt. figures so far put the damage as following:

- Loss of property - 80 crore 53 lakh rupees loss

- 2 lakh homes damaged

- 14515 villages water 

- 39 towns affected

- 5 lakh ha farm land water logged

- 873000 evacuated

- 8 death (Ganjam - 2, Jagatsinghpur - 3, Khurda - 1, Balsore - 1 and Bhadrak -1)

- Roads, trees and electricity infrastructure have been hugely damaged.  The govt. says while it will restore electricity connectivity in all areas by this evening, in Ganjam district it will take at least a week.

However, independent sources put that at much more.  We are coordinating with member organisations and others and will come back with further information soon.

Please help the government as well as civil society in relief and rehabilitation operations.

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

--
Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!
INDIA

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper (Member, Waterkeeper Alliance, New York)

Lead, Water Core Group, NGO Forum on ADB, Manila

Mobile:             +919437050103      

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, ranjanpanda@yahoo.com

You can also mail me at: ranjan.waterman@facebook.com

Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader

 Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

 Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save Civilizations' at http://www.facebook.com/groups/220598744649462

Please join our new campaign https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenNeedWaterToPlay

 Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in India for more than two decades now.

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 01.30 PM on 13th October 2013

As per google crisis map, the cyclone is about to reach Sambalpur and then will move onto Chhatisgarh along Mahanadi, as per the following direction:

Dashpur - Bargaon - Talpadar - Reliance Petrol Pump at Goshala - Side of Jyoti Vihar - just above Hirakud reservoir's Power House and into the reservoir - Kurtipali - Patrapali - Reservoir - Singharpur - Hills - Keshar Jhima - Rakhasbudha - Khutnipali - Laubahal - Bildhipa - Jampali - Tangraghat - Nagarmuda - Jamgir - Lalpur - Kenapada - and more...

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 6.00 PM on 12th October 2013

(Image from Cyclone Tracker at 5.40 PM)

Ground fall may be between 6 to 8 PM. Wind speed at Puri is about 120 kmph. Paradeep - Sea has gushed in to about 200 meters.

About 80 kms off Gopalpur now.

Some people in Paradeep still reluctant to vacate their homes.  They fear the administration will not be able to guard their belongings from theft.  Govt. officials say they are trying to evacuate using police force.

 One casualty of human life.  A woman dies as a tree branch falls.

Rains also in west Odisha districts.  WESCO resorts to power cut even before heavy rain and high wind speed comes.

Even though Hirakud flood gates have released a lot of water, the dam is still at an unsafe level.  The predicted rains in Chhatisgarh may spell doom for the dam.  

The Mahanadi delta is already waterlogged.  Drains in Cuttack full and congested.

Police has said it cannot take responsibility of protection of the lavish and costly puja mandaps in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.  

======================================================================

IMD Projections at 3.00 PM

The very severe cyclonic storm, PHAILIN over westcentral & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards during past 3 hours with a speed of 20 kmph and lay centred at 1430 hrs IST of today, the 12thth October 2013 over westcentral & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 18.60 0 N and longitude 85.40 0 E, about 90 km southeast of Gopalpur. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts close to Gopalpur (Odisha) during 6-8 P.M. of today i.e. the 12thth October, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph gusting to 240 kmph.

Warning for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal

(i)Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 25 cm) would occur over Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 48 hrs. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over coastal areas of West Bengal commencing from afternoon of today i.e. the 12thth October.

(ii)Gale wind: Gale winds speed reaching 210-220 kmph gusting to 235 along and off coastal districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha would prevail at the time of landfall. State of Sea along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast will be phenomenal. It will be rough to very rough along and off West Bengal coast during the above period.

(iii)Storm Surge Guidance: Storm surge with height of 3.0 to 3.5 metre. above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall.

(iii)Storm Surge Guidance: Storm surge with height of 3.0 to 3.5 metre. above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall.

(iv)Damage expected over Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh: Extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to old buildings. Large scale disruption of power and communication lines. Disruption of rail and road traffic due to extensive flooding. Potential threat from flying debris. Flooding of escape routes. Extensive damage to agricultural crops.

Post landfall outlook:

 Even after landfall the system is likely to maintain the intensity of very severe cyclonic storm for 6 hours and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm in subsequent 6 hours while moving northwestwards across interior Odisha. Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places would occur over Odisha. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Squally wind speed reaching 100-120 kmph would also prevail for 6 hours and 60-70 for subsequent 6 hours over Odisha during the same period.

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 5.30 PM:

90 kms off Gopalpur now. 

PHAILIN Update @ 5.20 pm:

Ground fall may be between 6 to 8 PM. Wind speed at Puri is about 120 kmph. Paradeep - Sea has gushed in to about 200 meters.

HIRAKUD DAM Flood Alert for PHAILIN Cyclone - 12th October 2013

HIRAKUD ALERT - The Hirakud dam reservoir is again caught in a difficult position.  Apprehending flood situation due to the cyclone, the dam authorities are now releasing water through 13 sluice gates.  

The dam's reservoir that was almost full (630 feet) in beginning of this month has now been emptied by 9 feet during the last 2 days.  The dam's reservoir is now at 621.622 capacity.  We heard that rains at upper catchment has also reduced during these two days.  

However, just now we got reports from members who stay near the reservoir that there is rough wind over the vast reservoir and people apprehend rainfall at the upper end. At the moment  Cyclonic rains have already started showering over the Mahanadi delta.  

Lets hope that there is no rain at the upper end of Hirakud and from Hirakud to Mundali.  The flow at Mundali is 6,42,890 cusecs now.  At 621 level Hirakud dam's safety is already in jeopardy.  Now if its caught between rains from both upstream and downstream, things will just go worse.  Meanwhile flood alerts have been sounded by Sambalpur district administration.  This is quite apt. 

People living near Mahanadi should stay alert and prepared and evacuate if flood situation worsens.

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 08.00 AM on 12th October 2013

(Latest image of PHAILIN at Cyclone Tracker @ 10.00 AM, 12th October 2013)

The very severe cyclonic storm, PHAILIN over westcentral & adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards during past 6 hours with a speed of 15 kmph and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 12thth October 2013 over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal near latitude 17.50 0 N and longitude 86.50 0 E, about 260 km southeast of Gopalpur, 270 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam and 310 km south-southeast of Paradip. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by evening of today i.e. the 12thth October, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph gusting to 240 kmph.

Warning for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal 

(i)Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 25 cm) would occur over coastal Odisha during next 48 hrs and over interior Odisha from today afternoon for subsequent 48 hrs. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 48 hrs. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over coastal areas of West Bengal commencing from afternoon of today i.e. the 12thth October.

(ii)Gale wind: Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph would prevail along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 6 hours. It would increase in intensity thereafter with gale wind speed reaching 100-150 kmph from noon and 210-220 kmph gusting to 235 along and off coastal districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha at the time of landfall. State of Sea along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast is high and will become gradually phenomenal from forenoon of today. It will be rough to very rough along and off West Bengal coast during the above period.

(iii)Storm Surge Guidance: Storm surge with height of 3.0 to 3.5 metre. above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall.

(iv)Damage expected over Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh: Extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to old buildings. Large scale disruption of power and communication lines. Disruption of rail and road traffic due to extensive flooding. Potential threat from flying debris.  Flooding of escape routes. Extensive damage to agricultural crops.

(v) Action suggested: Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast. Total suspension of fishing operations. Large scale evacuation of population from coastal areas. Total suspension of rail and road traffic in vulnerable areas . People in affected areas to remain indoors.

Post landfall outlook: Even after landfall the system is likely to maintain the intensity of very cyclonic storm for 6 hours and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm in subsequent 6 hours while moving northwestwards across interior Odisha. Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places would occur over Odisha. Rainfall at many places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and south Jharkhand. Squally wind speed reaching 100-120 kmph would also prevail for 6 hours and 60-70 for subsequent 6 hours over Odisha during the same period.

(http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/cwind.pdf)

Now, this is a RED MESSAGE from the IMD.  And as our members report from various districts, rainfall and wind have already started in several parts of the coastal districts.  We just got information that power supply has been cut in Cuttack already.  That is supposed to be a situation when air blows at more than 50 kmph speed.  

Please take care and help people get evacuated.  Help the administration and other civil society groups and all of them who are engaged in evacuation of people from coast and low lying areas.  We have already circulated to you numbers of all district authorities responsible 

Thanks,

Ranjan Panda

Good Morning Thought - 12th October 2013!

Today is the day of prayer, of building hope that we can tide over the storm and also of confirmation that real God is Mother Nature; and that, she doesn't stay in the glitzy and lavish pandals...

Good Morning!

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 5.30 AM on 12th October 2013

(Latest Image from Cyclone Tracker)

The very severe cyclonic storm, PHAILIN over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved northwestwards during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0230 hrs IST of today, the 12thth October 2013 over westcentral and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal near latitude 17.10 0 N and longitude 86.80 0 E, about 355 km south-southeast of Paradip, 320 km southeast of Gopalpur, and 315 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by evening of today i.e. the 12thth October, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph.

Bengal Warning for Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

(i)Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (≥ 25 cm) would occur over coastal Odisha during next 48 hrs and over interior Odisha from today afternoon for subsequent 48 hrs. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would also occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 48 hrs. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over coastal areas of West Bengal commencing from afternoon of today i.e. the 12thth October.

(ii)Gale wind: Squally winds speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would continue along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 6 hours. It would increase in intensity thereafter with gale wind speed reaching 100-150 kmph from forenoon and 210-220 kmph along and off coastal districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha at the time of landfall. State of Sea along and off Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast is rough to very rough and will become gradually phenomenal from afternoon of today. It will be rough to very rough along and off West Bengal coast during the above period.

(iii)Storm Surge Guidance: Storm surge with height of 3.0 to 3.5 mt. above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall.

(iv)Damage expected over Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh: Extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to old buildings. Large scale disruption of power and communication lines. Disruption of rail and road traffic due to extensive flooding. Potential threat from flying debris. Flooding of escape routes. Extensive damage to agricultural crops.

(v) Action suggested: Fishermen out at sea along north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast are advised to return to coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea. Total suspension of fishing operations. Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas. Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. People in affected areas to remain indoors during cyclone landfall.

(http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/cwind.pdf)

PHAILIN Cyclone Update @ 01.10 AM on 12th October 2013 - Contact Details of Deputy Collectors/Emergency Officers

In response to my email the Relief Commissioner has sent the updated contact details of Deputy Collectors/Emergency Officers of all the districts.  Please keep a note of these and share...

The prompt response is appreciated!

Sl. No	Name of the District	Name of Emergency Officer	Mobile No	Office No	Fax No (Emergency/Collector)
1	Angul	Sarita Pradhan	9439853561	06764-230980	06764-230685
2	Balasore	P. Padmanav Dora Saroj Kumar Das, Head Clerk S.K. Ghose Sr. Clerk	9090906617 9861030756 9040647125	06782-262286            262647	06782-262208
3	Baragarh	Simanchal Mandal Lukesh Ku. Sahu Sr. Clerk	8895955935 9937763945	06646-232112	06646-232840
4	Bhadrak	Rajesh Ku. Panda Niranjan Parida Head Clerk	9437297404 9937717474	06784-251881	06784-250880
5	Bolangir	Anita Panda	9437313919	06652-232452	06652-233082
6	Boudh	Falguni Majhi Premananda Mohapatra	9437446551 9437222737	06841-222023	06841-222204
7	Cuttack	Satya Sunder Rout Naim Babu	9437672601 9437270365	0671-2507842 9337419494	0671-2301103
8	Deogarh	Sarat Ch. Swain	8763577737	06641-226843	06641-226301
9	Dhenkanal	Manaswani Sahoo Jitendra Mohanty-Jr. Clerk	9437239796 9437186594	06762-226507           221376	06762-225717
10	Gajapati	Basanta Kumar Hota	9437307566	06815-222943	06815-222464
11	Ganjam	Mahendra Panda Nrushingha Mohapatra, Head Clerk	9437222891 8895583905	06811-263978	06811-263344
12	Jagatsinghpur	Sweta kumar Dash	9437217138	06724-220368	06724-220299
		Sudarsan Sethy, Sr. Clerk	8763546605	06724-220368	06724-220299
13	Jajpur	Indira Behera Nakul Ch. Mallik	9437077133 9556998489	06728-222648	06728-222087
14	Jharsuguda	Suchitra Puspa Kulu Nirakar Pradhan,Sr. Clerk	8260094612 8895918655	06645-272802            271692	06645-270868
15	Kalahandi	Uttam Kumar Jetendra Ku. Dakua	8658493497 9437701577	06670-231992             230455	06670-230303
16	Kandhamal	Sumant Ku. Kar	9437086997	06842-253650	06842-253905/253645
		Chandrakanta Behera, Sr. Clerk	9438364020	06842-253650	06842-253905/253645
17	Kendrapara	Kailash Ch. Das (D.P.C Incharge) Raghu Das	9437217473 9178624842	06727-232803	06727-221603
18	Keonjhar	Godavari Pattanaik Pravatendu Nayak	9437424908 8895698953	06766-255437	06766-254298
19	Khurda	Pradeep Ku. Sahoo Rabindra Pattnaik Sr.Clerk	9438773866 9658939393	06755-220002	06755-221567
20	Koraput	Alekh Ch. Das Basant Ku.Panda, Sr. Clerk	9439875527 9437337909	06852-251381	06852-250466
21	Malkangiri	Rita Kumar M. Sugni, Jr. Clerk	9668647152 8895116330	06861-230442 06861-231372	06861-230356             231565
22	Mayurbhanj	Pallavi Nayak Debendranath Kar, Sr. Clerk	9437097852 9938915902	06792-252759	06792-252221
23	Nawarangapur	Gopinath Sarkar Birendra Kishore Bal, Sr.Clerk	9437112161 9937648385	06858-222434	06858-222344
24	Nayagarh	Gayatri Devi	8895893930	06753-252978	06753-252566
25	Nuapada	Madhumita Nayak Dinesh Ku. Biswal, Sr. Cleark	8018362773 9438204832	06678-225357	06678-225465
26	Puri	Rabindra Kumar  Pradhan Sarat Ch. Mohanty Sr.Clerk	9437222882 7894350251	06752-223237	06752-223939
27	Rayagada	Subrat Panigrahi Ramesh Takari Sr. Clerk	8763243678 9439090405	06856-224062            224082	06856-222770
28	Sambalpur	Nihar Ranjan Dash Manas Ranjan Mohanty,Sr.Clerk	9437092278 9437961513	0663-2412407	0663-2404006
29	Subarnapur	Jayshree Padhi	9437761571	06654-220362	06654-220345/220362
30	Sundargarh	Alomony.Sethi Goutam Patra   Head Clerk	9437115013 9937346399	06622-272233	06622-273166/312766