Most of us have seen pictures or photographs of flood-hit areas either in the newspapers or on the TV screen. Floods usually occur in the rainy season when abundant supply of surface water combined with the situation of high water table causes water to overflow. In general terms, we define to overflow. In general terms we define flood as a situation when the river overflows its banks and the water spreads in the surrounding areas submerging them.
The floodwater causes danger to the people, buildings, animals, crops etc. This danger is called FLOOD HAZARD.
Causes Of Flood
Sometimes when a particular area experiences heavy rainfall the excess rain water
runes through numerous channels or tributaries, which feed into the main river,
thereby increasing the volume of the river water. This increase the volume of water,
which cannot be contained within the banks of river, overflows and causes floods.
The heavy monsoon rainfalls are the chief causes f floods.
Landslides mainly take place during the rainy season. Landslides often block the channels and due to this blockade the water overflow its banks causing floods.
Occasionally the narrowness of the riverbed becomes the cause of floods.
Flood Affected Area
Floods are a common occurrence in many countries. In India the Northern and Eastern
regions are vulnerable to floods and the Brahmaputra and Ganga basins are more susceptible
to them.
In India floods occurs mainly at that time of the year when the South-West Monsoon is active from June to September.
Almost twenty-three states and union territories of India are subject to floods. However the most affected states are Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. Floods also occur in Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Tamilnadu and North-Eastern states of India. The most flood prone areas lie in Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
Effect Of Flood
Floods have ravaged many part of India. With increasing population pressure and
accelerated economic development, the adverse effects of floods are being increasingly
felt now. Floods cause great distress as they damage crops, property and also endanger
life.
All over the world natural disasters have imposed untold human suffering and extracted heavy toll of losses. Recent instances have revealed that it is not only the developing countries that have suffered from floods but also the developed nations, who have high standards of construction and extensive measures of protection. Cultivable and cultivated areas get submerged and eroded, leading to the loss of soil as well as crops, which further lead to famine-like conditions.
Many houses are destroyed completely while some may face partial damage. Public and the private utility services and industries also face heavy damages. Economic activities breakdown leading to loss of wealth.
Preparing to Mitigate Flood Disasters
A detailed planning for prompt and efficient action in response to the anticipated
event is called DISASTER PREAREDNESS. For disaster preparedness, comprehensive measures
are needed. People should be educated and made aware of the steps to be taken in
the event of a mishap. Timely warnings are to be issued and elderly people should
be evacuated to safe shelters on emergency basis.
Before flooding occurs.
When you hear a flood warning or if flooding appears likely
During floods
If you need to evacuate