Dr Ravinder K Jangral
Floods have been a recurrent phenomenon in India and cause huge losses to lives, properties, livelihood systems, infrastructure and public ut‘ilities. The National Weather Service of India defines a flash flood as “A rapid and extreme flow of high water into a normally dry area, or a rapid rise in a stream or creek above a predetermined flood level, beginning within six hours of the causative event (e.g., intense rainfall, dam failure, ice jam). India’s high risk and vulnerability is reflected by the fact that 40 million hectares out of a geographical area of 3290 lakh hectares is prone to floods. As per the National Disaster Management Guidelines, 2008, on an average every year, 75 lakh hectares of land is affected, 1600 lives are lost and the damage caused to crops, houses and public utilities is Rs. 1805 crores due to floods. The maximum number of lives (11,316) were lost in the year 1977. The frequency of major floods is more than once in five years. Even the areas which were not prone to flood have observed floods in recent times. Eighty per cent of the precipitation takes place in the monsoon months from June to September. The rivers bring heavy sediment load from the catchments. These, coupled with inadequate carrying capacity of the rivers are responsible for causing floods, drainage congestion and erosion of river-banks. Cyclones, cyclonic circulations and cloud bursts cause flash floods and lead to huge losses. The fact that some of the rivers causing damage in India originate in neighboring countries adds another complex dimension to the problem.
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the India. However, all floods are not alike. Riverine floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. Flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes, without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries a deadly cargo of rocks, mud and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when anembankmentis breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur from a dam break producing effects similar to flash floods. Flood effects can be very local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, effecting entire river basins and multiple states. Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. Even very small streams, gullies, creeks, culverts, dry streambeds or low-lying ground that appear harmless in dry weather can flood.
Jammu and Kashmir is having a long history of Natural disasters. The state has witnessed many natural disasters especially in the 19th and early 20th century. Owing to its peculiar topography, rugged terrain, extreme weather conditions and above all an underdeveloped economy especially a poor road and communication network, the State has suffered a lot on account of both life and property in the past. Flash floods, short lived extreme events, which usually occur under slowly moving or stationary thunderstorms, lasting less than 24 hours are a common disaster in the state.Glacial melting due to Global warming is another major cause of flash floods. The major glaciers in the higher mountains are receding at an alarming rate.Glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir are receding at a faster rate compared to other glacial regions in the world. In Suru basin alone, we have lost about 16% of glaciers in the last 40 years. Similarly, we have lost 18% of the Kolhai glacier, the main source of drinking water and irrigation in the valley, during the same period. Climate change is likely to affect a number of sectors, particularly irrigated agriculture, and horticulture and hydropower capacity in the state. Both parts of Kashmir face the risk of higher frequency of floods and increased threat to hydropower development.
Besides , Kashmir has been witnessing drastic decrease in the snowfall. This reduction in snowfall together with the fast receding glaciers has resulted in water scarcity for irrigation and hydropower generation in some seasons. The data shows that the magnitude and frequency of flooding has increased in the valley during the last few decades. Coupled with the unplanned urbanization and mismanagement of the Jhelum floodplains, the situation is going to be alarming in near future. One can well imagine the future scenario, with most of the wetlands that used to act as sponge during flooding, being urbanized and converted into concrete landscape. Over 300 BW people were killed and property worth crores was damaged in the recent flash floods and cloudbursts in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 234 people died in Leh and 424 were seriously injured, Rajouri district in Jammu division witnessed 20 deaths followed by Reasi (11), Anantnag (10), Kathua and Poonch (7 each), Doda and Baramulla (5 each), Jammu, Udhampurand Kargil (2 each) and Budgam and Shopian (one each). Baramulla suffered a loss of Rs 61 crore in agricultural sector and Rs 58.22 crore in the horticulture sector, the highest economic loss in the state. Shopian suffered a loss of Rs 10.35 crore in the horticulture sector. In the border district of Kupwara, damage caused due to floods is estimated by the government to be around Rs 75.40 crore.
The most recent floods that hit major parts of Jammu and Kashmir have brought the toll list above hundred and several being injured. Major road, bridges and connecting roads have got damaged thereby making the rescue operations even difficult. Many families have become homeless and have suffered huge economic as well as social loss. The article envisages knowing more about the preparedness against pre, during and post flood conditions.
Mitigation measures to minimize or prevent the onset of floods are the need of hour. Construction of embankments, periodic cleaning of natural water storage, construction of retention basins (ring bunds) and construction on elevated areas in flood prone areas can be successful mitigation measures against floods. Apart, some dams can also be constructed which can be used as temporary storing space which will reduce the chances of lower plains getting flooded.
Capacity development activities proposed by NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) can be categorized into three phases. First phase include identification and marking of flood prone areas on maps, preparation of close contour and flood vulnerability maps, formulating plans for expansion and modernization of flood forecasting and warning systems, identification of priority flood protection and drainage improvement works, identification of reservoirs for review and modification of operation manuals and rule curves and undertaking special studies on problems of river erosion. Second phaseinclude implementation of the schemes for expansion and modernization of the flood forecasting and warning network, execution of flood protection and drainage improvement schemes, modification and adoption of revised reservoirThese include implementation of the schemes for expansion and modernization of the flood forecasting and warning network, execution of flood protection and drainage improvement schemes, modification and adoption of revised reservoir. Third phase include Implementation of activities, which include construction of dams and catchment area treatment (CAT) works in India as well as neighboring countries, is likely to take considerable time as they entail major environmental, social, inter-state and international implications.
Jammu & Kashmir State was amongst the first few states of the Indian Union to enact legislations for Natural Calamities. The Jammu & Kashmir Natural Calamities Destroyed Areas Improvement Act 1955 was enacted for improvement of towns, villages and other areas destroyed by natural calamities in the State. From time to time many amendments and modifications have been made. However, it was with the enactment of the National Disaster Management Act 2005, that many initiatives have been launched in Jammu & Kashmir State as well. These initiatives have been taken in order to minimize damage to life and property due to natural disasters. The State Disaster Management Authority has already been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister. Similarly, the State Executive Committee under the State Chief Secretary has also been constituted. The District Disaster Management Authorities under the respective District Collectors too have been formulated. As a maiden endeavor under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Natural Disaster Management for training and capacity building, a Disaster Management Centre has been established in the Administrative Training Institute of the State in the year 2001.
(The author is lecturer in Environmental Sciences)
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