Interim report of relief and rehabilitation in Kashmir after the floods in September 2014. Relief work is undertaken by Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS) of J&K and supported by Caritas India, Delhi. The work is largely focused in Pulwama district of J&K

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REBUILDING THE PARADISE
A Report on Relief and Rehabiliation in South Kashmir
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Jammu%&%Kashmir%Flood%Response%
An initiative for flood releif and rehabilitation in Kashmir undetaken by
Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS) of J&K in association with Caritas India, Delhi

2. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
2! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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REBUILDING THE PARADISE
Tragedy as it unfolded
Torrential downpour in the state from the 1st of September
began to wreak havoc as early as the next day as many parts of
Jammu region witnessed massive landslides and flash floods.
The losses were further escalated on the 6th when water levels
in all minor and major rivers in the region breached the
danger mark that resulted in the collapse of several bridges
and roads besides hundreds of houses across Jammu,
Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri districts. Near Nowshera in
Rajouri district about 160 kms northwest of Jammu city a bus
carrying more than 70 people mostly marriage party including
the bride and the groom was washed away by the raging
waters killing almost all the passengers.
While Jammu was witnessing what was considered to be the worst in many years another bigger
tragedy had already begun to unfold in Kashmir. Kashmir received unprecedented and rains for
about 72 hours that threw life out of gear. The initial impacts of rains were felt in the hilly districts of
Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora in the north and Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian in the South on
5th September. This further aggravated on 6th as the floods waters now covered almost all parts of
Kashmir particularly Srinagar in central Kashmir.
By 7th afternoon large parts of Srinagar city particularly Shivpora, Batwara, Sonawar, Rajbagh,
Jawahar Nagar, Mehjoor Nagar, Rambagh, Indira Nagar, Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk etc went
under water submerging the entire localities. While some people managed to run to safety others
took shelter in the upper floors and attics of their building. By now, the whole of Srinagar had
virtually become a large lake thus altering the entire landscape of the city and its surroundings. One
of the air force jawans on air rescue mission compared Srinagar to an ocean considering how the
flood waters had drowned most parts of the city. What was considered as exceptional and
unprecedented was now turning out to be a huge disaster upon Kashmir.
Source:SphereIndia

3. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
3! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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Need assessment by Caritas India Team
The Caritas India, the NGO with broad experience of disaster mamagement and community
development was quick to respond to the calamity which the Prime Minister termed as National
Disaster. The assessment team from Caritas India in two teams visited Jammu as well as Srinagar on
9th September to take stock of the situation and to gain first hand information on the extent of
damage. While the team in Srinagar concentrated on Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu region,
the team in Kashmir assessed damages in Srinagar, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts. All
the assessments were coordinated by Catholic Social Service Society (CSSS) of J&K thus ensuring
prompt and effective response in relief.
Community Engagement in relief
From the start of the intervention it was clear to us that we would focus on relief efforts in districts
away from Srinagar and Jammu. A team of local volunteers was also selected and prepared to
identify the affected people. The team first visited the district administration for inputs on damages.
Selection of villages for relief was finalised based on government data. All the same, the
administration had no comprehensive information on damages. Having received the go-ahead from
the administration the team would meet the village committees. In the case of Kashmir it is the
Masjid/Aquaf committees that provided vital leads on damages and immediate needs. The
committees by now had already prepared the list of affected persons which was later verified by our
team of volunteers through door-to-door survey and inquiry. The final list of beneficiaries based on
physical verification was later presented to the committees for information and joint distribution of
relief. The list is later published on prominent places of the community for the information of all.
On the day of distribution, based on beneficiary identification cards alreasy distrubted among
people, the members of the committee members undertake the task of disbursement while my team
facilitates the whole process. By doing this, we are able to encourage participation of the members of
the community into relief work among those affected within the village.

4. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
4! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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PHASE 1
IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE FLOOD AFFECTED
Districts Selected Services Offered
Jammu Region Kashmir Region Clean drinking water
Poonch Srinagar Tents
Rajouri Pulwama Sanitation Kits
Kulgam Non-food Items
Medical Assistance
RELEIF IN PULWAMA & KULGAM
Supply of drinking water
One of the first impacts of the floods anf high water levels for
several days was the shortage of clean drinking water. Caritas and
CSSS addressed this need by emplying water tankers to two villages
for 15 days thus ensuring that people of these villages had safe
water to drink. Thus on regular basis 30 litres of water was 640
households in Kullulu, Puchal, Kawani and Bandina villages in
Pulwama district.
District% Block% Village% Beneficiaries%
(families)%
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kullulu!/Puchal! 300!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Kawani/Bandina! 340!
TOTAL% 640%
Medical Camps
The response to Kashmir flood and our relief work in South Kashmir was bolstered by the services
of volunteers from the Camilus Task Force (CTF) a health services charity based in Hyderabad. The
first team comprising of a doctor and several medical students from Gandhi Medical College in
Hyderabad reached Srinagar on 2nd October. The team chose Pulwama district in South Kashmir as
the focal area of intervention. With the help of local volunteers led by Altaf Hussain the team
identified villages that needed immediate medical assistance.
The teams with several teams of volunteers provided medical assistance till 25th October. In the
process the team offered medical assistance to 3416 patients spread across 19 villages of Kakapora,
Pulwama and Tral blocks of Pulwama district. Camilus team exhibited tremendous resilience and
commitment in reaching out to the people in far flung villages of Kashmir and nothing, be it the
weather or adverse conditions, could deter their spirit.

5. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
5! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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District% Block% Village%
Beneficiaries%
(persons)%
Pulwama% Awantipora! Sail!Chudsoo! 277!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kisrigama! 128!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Larve! 39!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Qazigund! 149!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Gulbugh! 115!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Mohanviji! 172!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Banderpora! 125!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Hanjipora! 58!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Puchal!Kallulu! 195!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kharbatpora! 125!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Beighpora! 217!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Kawini! 235!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Bandina! 270!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Kulpora! 235!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Khandipora! 285!
Pulwama% Pulwama! Khellan! 265!
Pulwama% Tral! Dangerpora! 81!
Pulwama% Tral! Anghanjipora! 235!
Pulwama% Tral! Larkipora! 210!
TOTAL% 3416%
Sanitation Kits and Non-food items (NFI)
The severity of the flood was such that people lost much of theor priced possessions. The task was
to identify the immediate and urgent needs of the people including men, women and children and
help them cope with the tragedy. The Caritas and CSSS worked to provide sanitation and NFI kits
to the families. Sanitation/Wish kits were procured keeping in mid the immediate needs of women
and children. We ensured that all items were of good quality and met Sphere Standards in disaster
response.
NonLfood%Items%(NFI),%Wash%Kits%and%Kitchen%items%
Caritas%India%L%CSSS%
District% Block% Village%
Beneficiaries%
(families)%
Pulwama% Kakapora! Lelhar! 71!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Hajibal! 47!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Baderpora! 67!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kanilbagh! 47!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Reshipora! 50!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Wandakpora! 41!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Hanjipora! 51!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Gulbugh! 117!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Mohanviji! 174!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Pahoo! 35!

6. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
6! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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Pulwama% Kakapora! Dougam! 29!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Puchal/Kullulu! 100!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Ratnipora! 10!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Dangerpora! 30!
Pulwama% Tral! Goripora! 39!
Kulgam% Pahloo! Arnigutoo! 122!
Kulgam% Pahloo! Chamgund! 28!
TOTAL% 1058%
Phase%1%Summary%of%Pulwama%and%Kulgam%
Districts% Blocks% Villages% Beneficiaries%
Pulwama% 4! 38! 7254!
Kulgam% 1! 2! 150!
TOTAL% 5% 40% 7404%
NFI%kits%and%blankets%%
Corporate%Disaster%Response%Network%(CDRN)%
District% Block% Village%
Beneficia
ries%
(families)%
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kisrigama! 223!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Larve! 162!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Qazigund! 158!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Sethergund! 151!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Gandibagh! 63!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kharbatpora!Ratnipora! 55!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Rawatpora!!Ratnipora! 18!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Laribal! 164!
Pulwama% Kakapora! Kharbatpora! 55!
Pulwama% Tral! Beighpora! 310!
Pulwama% Tral! LarkiporaVA! 59!
Pulwama% Tral! LarkiporaVB! 383!
Pulwama% Tral! Padgampora! 269!
Pulwama% Tral! Dangerpora! 220!
TOTAL% 2290%

7. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
7! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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Phase!2!
KASHMIR FLOOD RESPONSE – PULWAMA DISTRICT
Based on the sector assessment conducted by the experts of Caritas with the help of local staff after
the first phase and with inputs from the district administration, CSSS finalized its 2nd phase of relief
work on winter mitigation assistance, ration, feed & bran for livestock and temporary shelters. The
NGO lays stress on creating synergy with the district administration and community in the efforts
to reach out with relief. Thus the team is constantly in touch with Auquaf committees of the
concerned villages to identify and finalize the names of the needy people. After verification by its
own team, the list is later shared with the district administration. “CSSS and Caritas have strong
sense of community development and they give priority to community participation in all activities.
Such measures ensure that the benefits of the relief reach the most deserving person” says Altaf
Hussain, the Program Officer of CSSS.
The second phase of relief includes construction of 50 temporary shelters in 6 villages of Pulwama
district for those who lost their houses to the floods. Of these 28 are being constructed in Reshipura
village, 17 kms from Pulwama. There is ration for 1200 families, so that they can manage the harsh
winter without much trouble. CSSS has created a network of retail vendors in Pulwama for the
smooth distribution of ration. Another 1200 families get winter mitigation kits that include pheran,
Socks, foam and kaangdi among others. Additionally, 500 families are being given feed and bran for
livestock.
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DETAILS(OF(ITEMS(
S
No.
Food Items (1200
Families)
Non-Food Items
(1200 Families)
Livestock
(500 families)
1 Rice 25kg Foam 5/20feet 10mm Feed 25kg
2 Flour 10kg Ferhan Tweed 7mtrs. Bran 17 kg
3 Turmeric 500grms Socks 5 nos.
4 Chilli 500grms Kangdi 3 nos,
5 Salt 1kg
6 Refined dalda Oil 2ltr
7 Salt tea 1kg
8 Rajma Dal 2kg
9 Mong dal 1kg
10 Cholla 1kg
11 Soyabeen 3kg
Shelter
One of the maor components of the 2nd phase
is that of transit shelter. Caritas and CSSS,
with the help of the district administration of
and Auquaf committees in villages have
identified needy households and constructed
50 shelters for in 6 villages of Pulwama
district. We believe that these shelters will
provide much comfort and relief to the
affected people to overcome the losses and
begin their lives anew.

8. Jammu & Kashmir Flood Response 2014 - 2015
8! Caritas!India!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Catholic!Social!Service!Society!(CSSS)!!
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CONCLUSION
Proper and timely distribution of relief materials and services
has helped many families in time of crisis. Caritas India was able
to reach the remote areas in their interventions by providing
basic necessities and support through medical assistance.
During the relief, people expressed their gratitude to Caritas
India and CSSS as they were the first one to reach their
respective villages after 10-12 days of flood.
We are grateful to all the volunteers who came forward to
support us during releif. The team in Pulwama under the
leadership of Mr. Altaf Hussain is the backbone of the program
They have been rendering relentless service to this intervention.
We are indebted to Jenad Sajad Ahmad Khan, the Duputy
Commussioner of Pulwama and Jenab Laiq Parvaiz, Aissistant
Deputy Commissioner for all the timely assistance and guidance
towards the project. All the village committees have been
extremely cooperative and have been very proactive in
identifying the deserving households for relief, rehabilitation
and support.
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Prepared by
Fr Shaiju Chacko
Program Manager: Caritas India – CSSS
J&K Flood Response – Pulwama/Srinagar
Mob: 94191 32344
Email: schacko77@gmail.com
2nd Phase is currently in progress
Janunary 31, 2015
Caritas India
CBCI Centre
1, Ashoka Place
New Delhi 110 001
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Catholic Social Service Society
Sewa Niketan
Kunjwani Bypass
Jammu, J&K – 180 010
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