What are the Causes of Floods in India? Floods are caused by natural, ecological

Question

What are the Causes of Floods in India? Floods are caused by natural, ecological or anthropogenic factors elther Individually or as a combined result. The various causes of floods in India are as follows: 1. Heavy precipitation: Rainfall of about 15 cm or more in single day may be beyond the carrying capacity of the river and this causes the spilling of river over natural banks. Areas affected include west coast of Western Ghats, Assam and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Indo-Gangetic plains. 2. Rise In rlver bed: Due to large gradients the Himalayan rivers carry a large amount of silt and sand Rise in river bed: Due to large gradients the Himalayan rivers carry a large amount of silt and sand which are ultimately deposited in the catchment area, and on the river bed. Siltation reduces the carrying capacity of river. 3. Meandering tendency of river-flow: In the flat terrain rivers have the tendency to meander or change the course within a specific boundary. Lower reaches of Gangetic plains and Brahmaputra. inundation of I regions. Floods due to cyclone are common in the East coast of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, 4. Cyclones: Tropical cyclones accompanied by strong winds, high tidal bores causing coastal Odisha and West Bengal. 5. Silting in Delta areas: Sea t steady deterioration of their discharge capacity. tides deposit silt on the river-mouths and disgharge channels leading to Embankments, railways, canals etc. obstruct the free flow of 6. Obstruction of free-flow of rivers: rivers leading to flood. 7. Inadequate drainage arrangement: After introduction of irrigation in some areas, the sub-soil water table rises fast unless adequate arrangement are simultaneously made for both surface and sub surface drainage. Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. 8. Earthquake and Landslide: These natural disaster change the river course and consequently cause flood. 9. Deforestation: Deforestation causes the acceleration of runoff and lowering of infitration. Deforestation of hill slopes leads to greater run-off which raises the water level in rivers. Western Ghats, Siwaliks and Chotanagpur plateau region.

Explanation / Answer

Causes of flood in India:

Heavy precipitation: Due to the heavy precipitation the rivers are unable to carry this water flow and hence spills its overbanks. Examples of area affected by heavy precipitation are Indo-Gangetic plains, west coast of Western Ghat, West Bengal, Assam and Sub-Himalaya

Rise in river bed: A large amount of silt and sand is carried by himalayan rivers after that it is finally deposited into the river bed which causes siltation and hence reduce its carrying capacity

Meandering tendency of river flow: Rivers tends to meander in a flat terrain.eg in lower reaches of Brahmaputra and Gangetic plains

Cyclones: Tropical cyclones along with strong winds results in high tidal waves which ultimately inundates the coastal areas. eg In east coast of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh , Orissa and West Bengal floods due to cyclone are common

Silting in Delta areas: Reduction in discharge capacity of river mouths and discharge channels due to deposition of silts by the sea tides in them.

Obstruction of free flow of rivers: When the free flow of rivers is obstructed by embankments, canals, railways etc. leads to flood

Inadequate drainage development: Inadequate drainage development in irrigated areas leads to rapid rise in sub soil water table.eg Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana

Earthquake and landslide: the river course is changed by earthquakes and landslides and utlimately leads to flood.

Deforestation: rise in river water level,acceleration of river runoff, lowering of filtration caused by deforestation.eg Western Ghats,Siwaliks and Chotanagpur plateau

Cloud burst: High amount of rainfall within a short interval of time due to cloud burst leads to flash floods, common in himalayan region

River floods cause 60%, cyclones and heavy rainfalls 40% damage in India.

Himalayan rivers total damage is 60% and is caused by floods(64%) and heavy rains(34%).

In peninsular river basins damage mostly by cyclones

Flood damge in Bihar 27%, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand 33%, 15% Punjab and Haryana

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