FLOOD RELATED DISASTERS: CONCERNED TO URBAN FLOODING IN BANGALORE, INDIA

Shubha Avinash

Abstract: Flood is one of the significant and frequent disasters in the world. Of these more than 50% of the events occur in Asia. Every year there is loss of human life, animals, houses, goods and property due to the outrage of floods. Urban areas are witnessing drastic population growth resulting in decreasing rainwater infiltration and increase in runoff and flood peak. Severe and frequent flooding events are possibly due to climate change, socio-economic damage, migration, development practices and political instability, which constantly reshape flood vulnerability. As a part of an integrated urban flood studies at KSNDMC, we are developing a plan for “Urban storm water flood management”–for Bangalore city, which is often subjected to monsoon fury. This paper describes the causes, circumstances and impact of flooding events in Bangalore city. In an urban scenario, like Bangalore, floods occur due to natural phenomenon such as heavy and / or high intensity rainfall, human factors such as blocking of storm water drains, population growth leading to improper land use & unplanned settlements etc. The immediate impact of floods will be mainly on the public transportation because of water submerging the roads, urban settlements in low laying areas due to inundation, chocking of storm water drains inundating the surrounding houses. In the Developing countries, like India, the activities of Flood management are handled by government and are still adopting a reactive approach during floods. This should be changed to proactive action which enhance effectiveness of management and reduce losses. For planning and implementing an effective short and long term flood management plan participation and co-operation between Government, non-governmental, private agencies and public is a prerequisite.

Keywords: flood vulnerability, socio-economic damage, migration, development practices and political instability.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2014.0328013