In June 2013, flash floods and landslides, set off by extreme rainfall in Uttarakhand, led to unprecedented damage and destruction in the state. Sudden increase in water levels in the rivers and extensive landslides damaged /destroyed houses, agriculture lands, standing crops, livestock, basic infrastructure facilities (i.e. road, bridges, schools, health centers, local markets, etc.) and telecommunication links. A total of 580 human lives were declared as lost, and more than 4,000 were declared missing; 4,200 villages affected, 9,200 cattle/livestock lost and 3,320 houses fully damaged^[1]. The cloudbursts, heavy rains, landslides, and floods have severely affected the existing rural infrastructure crippling access to even basic services, like water supply and sanitation. In a disaster-hit situation, the lack of potable drinking water adds to the crisis, influences the health of communities, women and children suffer the most as they have to spend hours trying to collect water. Lack of sanitation further aggravates it, by polluting the environment that can breed many diseases. Disruption in water supply and sanitation services overall compromises the coping mechanism of communities and families and prolongs the recovery period post a disaster. “As per State data 2,753 water schemes were damaged and only 500 were restored^[2] . Similarly, about 3,338 HH’s toilets have been washed away^[3]” and as a result people have had to resort to open defecation contributing to the pollution of  water and thereby, the overall environment. Himmotthan Society, along with Tata Relief Committee (TRC) and Tata Trusts, had been closely associated with post disaster relief work, which commenced immediately after the disaster in June 2013, Himmotthan and TRC has provided immediate relief to more than 200 villages.

Keeping in mind the issues of drinking water and sanitation, Himmotthan with the financial assistance of Tata Relief Committee (TRC) - know as Tata Uttarakhand Programme (TUP) is implementing  WaSH programme in 16 villages of Uttarakhand out of which 10 villages are in block Augustmuni of district Rudraprayag and 6 in Munsyari and Dharchula blocks of district Pithoragarh. The project will over by March 2018 and would benefit 1035 HH, covering 5000 beneficiaries.

Similarly two villages kith and Kund have been supported by The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) by end of March 2018 will benefit more than 790 beneficiaries covering 118 HH In the Tehri District of Uttarkhand.