Assam, which has a large network of major rivers, is prone to natural disasters such as floods and erosion that have a negative impact on the overall development of the empire. The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, which have more than 50 tributaries of their rivers, cause catastrophic floods each year. The problem of floods and erosion of Assam differs in particular from other provinces so far in terms of extent and length of floods and the extent of erosion and may be the worst and most unique in the country.
Several parts of Assam have been hit by heavy rains, floods and landslides, road links and trains have been cut off from the country. Cables were cut off in other parts of Assam, completely separating those trapped in flood-prone and low-lying areas. Reports suggest that landslides and floods have damaged state infrastructure, bridges, roads and railways. The northeastern region has been hit by the first floods this year after heavy rains over the past few days, following which the river water level has risen steadily. At least 11 people have been killed in floods and mudslides caused by heavy rains in Assam.
Regional flood area as assessed by RastriiaBarhAyog (RBA) is 31.05 Lakh Hectares compared to the total area of ​​78.523 Lakh Hectares i.e. almost. 39.58% of Assam’s total population. This is about 9.40% of the world’s flood-prone population. Records show that the annual average of flooded areas is 9.31 Lakh Hectares. The national flood area accounts for about 10.2% of the country’s total, but Assam’s flood area is 39.58% of the region. It means that Assam’s flood area is four times larger than the national flood symbol.
What we know about floods in the Assam so far:
• Officials have toldthat four people were killed on Monday following heavy rains and mudslides along the Arunachal Pradesh state border. Two others were killed when their houses collapsed on the hillock in the provincial capital Itanagar, and two road builders were killed in the mud. Seven other people were reported dead in neighboring Assam.
• Extreme levels of landslides and flooding have caused extensive damage to railways, bridges, and road connections in the hilly suburbs of the region because people in many parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya are said to be experiencing problems in communicating with the continent.
•About 2 Lakh people in Assam prefectures were also cut off across the region as roads and bridges were closed to landslides or erosion. Communication channels have also been taken from these areas.
•811 villages have been hit by floods in the province with 1,277 houses completely damaged and 5,262 slightly damaged. Many people have been forced to leave their homes after floodwaters flooded their homes and took refuge in schools and higher ground.
•India’s Meteorology Department has forecast heavy rainfall for the region over the next three days. Assam will remain on ‘red warning’ even on Wednesday.
• About 55 relief camps have been opened in seven districts, sheltering 33,000 people. A further 12 service centers also operate in the various affected districts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, apart from locals, have been carrying out rescue operations in flood-prone areas.
During the post-independence period, Assam experienced severe floods in 1954, 1962, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1988, 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2012. Almost every year three to four floods destroy the floodwaters. The average annual loss due to floods in Assam is Rs. 200.00 Crores and especially in 1998, the losses incurred were approximately Rs. 500.00 Crores and in 2004 it was almost Rs. 771.00 Crores.In 2004 and 2014 the southern bank of the Brahmaputra in lower Assam, experienced catastrophic floods due to cloud eruptions in the Meghalaya catchment area. The floods caused extensive damage in many areas, including the loss of human lives.
Indian flood situation and prone states in India for flood
Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of snow or tropical cyclones or tsunamis in coastal areas.Floods can cause widespread damage, leading to loss of life and damage to personal property and vital public health infrastructure. Between 1998-2017, floods affected more than two billion people worldwide. People who live in flood-prone areas or buildings, or who do not have flood warning systems, are at high risk of flooding.
India is a peninsula country surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This geographical position puts the country at risk of flooding.Since the flooding can cause extensive damage to health and property, people living in flood-prone areas in India need to be well prepared. This includes repairing safety facilities, laying down floodplains, and ensuring priorities.
What causes floods and natural disasters:
Climate change has played a key role in causing major floods in central India, including the 2006 and 2017 Mumbai floods. During 1901-2015, there was a threefold increase in the frequency of heavy rains, in central and northern India. – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam and parts of the Western Ghats – Goa, northern Karnataka and South Kerala A growing number of heavy rainfall events are due to increasing volatility of the western windstorm, due to the rising temperatures in the Arabian Sea. This results in the transfer of moisture from the Arabian Sea to the mainland, resulting in heavy rains lasting 2-3 days, and spread over an area large enough to cause flooding.
Prone states in India for flood& it’s record in India:
• Heavy rains throughout the Maharashtra region, including large areas of the capital city Mumbai that reached 567 inches alone on 26 July 2005 killed at least 1,094 people. This day is still remembered as the day Mumbai stopped, as the city was facing the worst rains ever. Mumbai International Airport remains closed for 30 hours, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway was closed for 24 hours with loss of public property estimated at R550 crore (US $ 72 million).
• June 2013 floods in Northern India: Heavy rains due to volcanic activity caused severe flooding and landslides in the northern states of India, especially Uttarakhand and nearby regions. More than 5,700 people were thought to be dead.
• Gujarat Flood of June 2015: Heavy rains in June 2015 caused widespread flooding in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat resulting in the deaths of more than 70 people. The wildlife of Gir Forest National Park and its vicinity was also affected.
• Gujarat Flood of July 2015: Heavy rains in July 2015 caused flooding in northern Gujarat resulting in the deaths of more than 70 people.
• South African Floods of 2015: Heavy rains in Nov-Dec 2015 led to the flooding of the Adyar, on the Cooum River in Chennai, Tamil Nadu resulting in financial losses and lives.
• Assam Floods 2016: Heavy rains in July – August caused floods that affected 1.8 million people and flooded Kaziranga National Park killing at least 200 wildlife.
• Gujarat Flood of 2017: Following heavy rains in July 2017, the Gujarat region of India was hit by a flood that killed more than 200 people.
• Kerala Flood of August 2018: Following heavy rains in late August 2018 and heavy monsoon rains since August 8, 2018, heavy floods affected the state of Indian Kerala resulting in the deaths of more than 445 people.
• India 2019 August 2019 floods including Kerala floods of 2019: Following heavy rains in late July and early August 2019, a series of floods affected nine regions in India. The provinces of Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat are the worst affected.
• Hyderabad 2020 floods, Hyderabad floods in October 2020 caused 98 deaths, part of the North Indian Ocean hurricane season of 2020
• Uttarakhand floods of 2021, Uttarakhand floods in February 2021 caused by avalanche from top of London
• Maharashtra floods of 2021, floods that spread across Mahad and Chiplun on 22 July 2021 caused by incredible heavy rainfall.
