In 2006, the Thar Desert had to brace a severe flood. Downpour continuing over 100 hours caused wide scale destruction and loss.

While peoples’ lives were at tremendous risk and many of them tried to escape the wrath of the nature by leaving their hamlets, there were scores of people stranded in a precarious state in different corners of the affected area. Property, livestock, rainwater harvesting structures etc were damaged by the floods. Reports also say that water supply in many areas was disrupted due to power failure. The road and rail traffic in the districts was badly affected with roads inundated with flood waters and collapsed bridges. The toll in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan  reached 28. As many as 14 columns of the army helped the civil administration in relief and rescue operations.

GRAVIS' Flood relief work  

Once the news of the floods reached GRAVIS, the GRAVIS team held a strategic meeting at its Gagadi field center on August 21, 2006. An initial assessment of the situation was conducted by visiting the neighboring villages, and consulting with field staff and other acquaintances from GOs, NGOs, and the media. Looking at the magnitude of the situation and GRAVIS’ capacity, the team decided to offer flood relief services to 4 districts: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Jhalore. Over the next one year, GRAVIS organized extensive flood relief and rehabilitation in several blocks including Osiyan block in Jodhpur ,  Shiv block in Barmer, Pokhran and Fathegarh in Jaisalmer and Aahore and Sachore blocks in Jalore district.