KUNAL GUPTA - 0171BBA268 MANMEET SACHDEVA - 0171BBA272 AAKASH -0171BBA381 WHAT IS A DISASTER ? A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. TYPES OF DISASTRES Natural Disaster - A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples are floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, and other geologic processes.
Man - Made Disasters - Anthropogenic hazards are hazards caused
by human action or inaction. They are contrasted with natural hazards. Anthropogenic hazards may adversely affect humans, other organisms, biomes and ecosystems. HYDROLOGICAL DISASTER Sudden and violent changes in the quality, distribution, or movement patterns of water on Earth can result in great destruction. Such natural disasters are called hydrological disasters. There are three types of hydrological disasters, namely floods and tsunamis. INTRODUCTION
Flood is generally defined as flooding or
excess of water on dry land. Flooding is a condition that occurs when water normally overflows the artificial or natural boundaries of a stream, river, or other body of water over land. Floods often occur due to heavy rain or snowfall. CAUSES OF FLOOD ► Massive Rainfall Drainage systems and the effective infrastructure design aid during heavy rains. They help the drainage of excess water into reservoirs in an easy way. But in cases of heavy rainfall, the systems stop working. ► Overflowing of the Rivers The people living along the river always have a risk of life from the overflowing of the Rivers. To prevent such a situation, a string of dams are built. However, if these dams are not managed properly, they may cause flooding and huge damage. Cont. ► Climate change The climatic changes caused due to human practices also add to the risk of flooding. Human beings cut trees in a large number, thus affecting the process of photosynthesis. Thus increased level of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere cause changes in climate posing threats of natural disasters like floods etc. ► Deforestation The cutting of trees in a reckless manner i.e. deforestation is also a major cause of man-made flooding. Trees prevent soil erosion and also the loss of crops. The vegetation is also enriched as a result of more and more trees. This also blocks the massive flow of rain, thus preventing flooding. TYPES OF FLOOD ⮚RIVER FLOOD ⮚FLASH FLOOD ⮚COASTAL FLOOD ⮚URBAN FLOOD RIVER FLOOD River flooding is one of the most common types of inland flooding; when a body of water exceeds its capacity. when a river 'bursts its banks' - usually due to prolonged high rainfall and sometimes from melting snow- localized flooding can significantly damage surrounding properties, as well as pose a significant safety hazard. FLASH FLOOD Flash flooding occurs when the ground does not absorb water as quickly as it falls. This type of flooding usually ends quickly, but as long as it moves quickly and can be dangerous. Flash floods are more common in areas with a dry climate and rocky terrain because lack of soil or vegetation allows torrential rains to flow overland rather than infiltrated into the ground and it is caused by heavy and sudden rainfall COASTAL FLOOD As the name suggests, it occurs in areas that lie on the coast of a sea, ocean, or another large body of open water, this is usually the result of extreme tidal conditions caused by severe weather. Such floods are usually associated with hurricanes, tsunamis or tropical storms. The storm wind pushes the water up, create high waves and flood slow down when it spread to large area URBAN FLOOD Urban flooding is specific in the fact that the cause is a lack of drainage in an urban area. As there is little open soil that can be used for water storage nearly all the precipitation needs to be transport to surface water or the sewage system. High intensity rainfall can cause flooding when the city sewage system and draining canals do not have the necessary capacity to drain away the amounts of rain that are falling IMPACT OF FLOOD ⮚ Loss of lives and property Immediate impacts of flooding include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, non-functioning of infrastructure facilities and deterioration of health condition owing to waterborne diseases. ⮚ Psychosocial effects The huge psycho-social effects on flood victims and their families can traumatize them for long periods of time. The loss of loved ones can generate deep impacts, especially on children. Cont. ⮚ Hindering economic growth and development The high cost of relief and recovery may adversely impact investment in infrastructure and other development activities in the area and in certain cases may cripple the frail economy of the region. Recurrent flooding in a region may discourage long-term investments by the government and private sector alike. ⮚ Political implications Ineffective response to relief operations during major flood events may lead to public discontent or loss of trust in the authorities or the state and national governments. Lack of development in flood-prone areas may cause social inequity and even social unrest posing threat to peace and stability in the region. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATED TO FLOOD • As per the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the major flood prone areas of India cover almost 12.5% area of the country. • Central Water Commission (CWC) issues flood forecasts at 226 stations in the country (UP has highest 87) • About 6 thousand forecasts are issued during monsoon season • Accuracy of forecasts is about 96% MITIGATION PROCESS ⮚Map out flood prone area ⮚Construct barriers ⮚modify buildings ⮚Introduce flood warning system ⮚Reforestation CONT.
⮚Construct channels ⮚Good evacuation plan ⮚Prevent development in flood prone area ⮚Shift people from flood prone area ⮚Construct building above flood level CASE STUDY 2004 Bihar Flood
⮚ Being considered as a flood prone area, Bihar is again
in the list because of 2004 flood which it suffered. It was stated that a total of 883 people lost their lives and more than 3000 animals were killed. One of the most horrifying disaster caused almost a loss of Rs.
Mahananda, Bagmati, Budhi had already crossed the red mark while on the other hand Ganga first time in its history crossed the red mark in Farrakka Barrage. Cont. 2010 Ladakh Flood.
⮚ It was 6th August 2010, when the series of natural
disasters started to take place in Ladakh, a regional part of J&K ( Jammu and Kashmir). It was accompanied with cloudburst, debris flows and Flash floods from Himalayan. Causality was less than 300 but ⮚ a great loss of property was reported. Areas of Leh were also affected and it caused a loss of total Rs. 133 crores INR. STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT National Flood Management Program ⮚ Launched in 1954, different methods of flood protection structural as well as non-structural have been adopted in different states depending upon the nature of the problem and local conditions. ⮚ Structural measures include storage reservoirs, flood embankments, drainage channels, anti- erosion works, channel improvement works, detention basins etc. and non-structural measures include flood forecasting, flood plain zoning, flood proofing, disaster preparedness etc. Cont. Regional task forces 1996 ⮚ It was set up to review the impact of the recommendations of the RBA and to suggest short term and long term measures ⮚ Their measures included among other administrative measures, construction of large flood moderation projects, particularly in the North- East and following up the enactment of Flood Plain Zoning Act so as to tackle encroachment by people in the flood plains