Impact of Flash Floods in India

General Studies Paper-1

Context

• A new study by researchers at IIT Gandhinagar has warned that flash floods are becoming more frequent and severe across India.

What Are Flash Floods?

• Flash floods are sudden, intense floods that occur within six hours of a heavy rainfall event, usually in regions with steep slopes, poor drainage, or saturated/dry soil.
• Unlike riverine floods, they offer little warning, making them particularly deadly.

Impact of Flash Floods in India

• Human and Livelihood Impact: Flash floods lead to significant casualties due to their sudden onset.
  • The 2023 flash floods in Himachal Pradesh claimed over 400 lives and displaced thousands.
• Damage to Public Utilities: Flash floods damage power lines, drinking water systems, and mobile networks, making post-disaster recovery slower and more expensive.
• Land Degradation: Torrential runoff erodes topsoil, degrades fertility, and increases sedimentation in rivers and reservoirs.
• Urban Challenges: Cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru experience rapid runoff due to concretised surfaces and encroached stormwater drains.

Initiatives taken by government

• Central Water Commission (CWC) is the nodal organisation entrusted with the task of flood forecasting & early flood warnings in the country.
• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in joint collaboration with the US National Weather Service, has developed a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) for the South Asian region.
• The Central Government has approved the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Programme (NGRMP) in four Himalayan States viz. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh with a total budget of Rs.150.00 crore.

Recommendations and Adaptation Strategies

• Flash Flood Forecasting: Integrate terrain, drainage, soil data, and real-time weather.
• Early Warning Systems: Develop region-specific models that consider soil moisture and topography.
  • Promote community-level alerts in vulnerable districts.
• Land-Use and Urban Planning: Ban construction in high-risk zones (e.g., floodplains, steep slopes). Build climate-resilient infrastructure in elevated roads, permeable pavements, and stormwater drains.
• Disaster Preparedness: Update flood risk maps regularly and conduct mock drills in urban and rural areas.
• Climate Adaptation in Policy: Integrate climate models into national and state disaster management frameworks. Promote nature-based solutions like wetland conservation, afforestation, and catchment restoration.