Assignment 2
Assignment 2
Assignment No. 2
BATCH 2017
Section CV-B
Submitted By:
(May 5, 2021)
ABSTRACT
Disasters are situations that can cause severe damage to individuals and communities including
loss of lives and livelihood assets along with damage to ecosystem. Disaster can also have
negative impact on agriculture, environment and infrastructure of country. So, to counter these
effects of disasters we need to analyze and reduce the disasters risks through a systematic
process. This work provides a review of risks associated with flash and river flooding in
Pakistan. It also gives an analytical discussion on the historic flood events and their adverse
impacts. In addition, the flood risk reduction approaches undertaken so far in Pakistan have
also been discussed.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We have put our efforts in this research. Indeed, it would not have been achievable without
support and help from the university and many individuals. We would like to say heartfelt
thanks to all of them.
We would also like to express our gratitude towards our parents & Course Instructor Engineer
Sir Nasir Butt for his kind co-operation and encouragement which helped us in completion of
this project.
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Table of Contents
ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................... 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... 3
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 7
6 Impacts of Floods............................................................................................................. 12
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9 References ........................................................................................................................ 19
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LIST OF FIGURES
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1 Introduction
Pakistan is located in South Asia and shares its borders with India in the southeast, Afghanistan
in the northwest, Iran in the west and the north is China and it lies between Longitudes of 620E
and 750E and Latitudes of 240N and 370N, with a total land area of 796,095 km. Pakistan is
divided into three major Geographic regions: The Balochistan Plateau, Indus River plains, and
the northern mountain ranges. The total population of Pakistan is now more than 220 million
according to the latest census. The diversity of natural and physical environment is a challenge
and threat to a variety of natural disasters like Floods, Earthquakes and Landslides etc. The
natural disasters including floods, earthquakes, landslides and human induces disasters such as
road accidents, Industrial accidents, fire, terrorism internally displaced people and war also
affect the livelihood of people. The major tributaries of Indus River are Jhelum River, Chenab
River, Ravi River, Sutlej River and Kabul River. It collects water from all other rivers and
finally unloads into the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
Flood is an overflow of water on the dry land adjacent to a river or lake that is not covered by
water normally and causes to material loss, human health affect or cause to fatality. Floods
continue to hit many countries, both less developed and industrialized, bringing human
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suffering and immense economic damage. Flood risk reduction aims to reduce and manage the
risks that floods pose to human health, economic activity, the environment, and cultural
heritage. Flood risk reduction focuses on decreasing the consequences of floods through
measures within the vulnerable area. Consequences of floods can also be reduced by flood
preparation like flood forecasting and warning systems and disaster management.
Flooding is the most massive natural hazard in Pakistan due to diverse ecosystems and occurs
mainly due to the heavy monsoon rains throughout the country, mostly in the summer season
and overflow the rivers and streams over dry land. In Pakistan floods are common problem
and their continuity makes them more alarming for its economic growth. Although the impacts
of flood vary from one place to another and in the consequences, there are significant losses
such as human life loss their shelter, livelihood, damage to the public and private infrastructure
such as roads and bridges.
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3 Case Study
3.1 Flash Flood in Rawalpindi Nullah Lai, Punjab
Nullah Lai is a hill torrent flowing through Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Margallah hills are the
catchment area of nullah Lai. During monsoon, it is flooded almost every year. On 23rd July
2001, a record rain of 620 mm was recorded at Islamabad in just 10 h. As a consequence, a
destructive urban flood occurred in the twin cities (Islamabad- Rawalpindi) and a total of 74
lives were lost, approximately 400,000 people were affected, 742 livestock were perished,
1,087 houses were fully damaged and 2,448 partially. Another terrible situation was occurred
on 5th July 2008, when a torrential rainfall of 104 mm was recorded at Islamabad in just 100
min and 162 mm in 5 h. Eventually, it has caused a disastrous flood in nullah Lai. Besides
massive damages to urban property, 3 precious lives were also lost. It has prompted the
Government to establish Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System for Nullah Lai [1].
3.2 Flash Flood in Karachi and Thatta, Sindh
In July 2003, the province of Sindh was severely affected by heavy monsoon rainfall and
caused flash and urban floods in major part of Karachi, Thatta and Badin. In Karachi, 284 mm
rain fell in just 2 days, which generated massive urban flood and disastrous situation in the city.
Similarly, heavy rainfall was also recorded in other parts of the province. In Thatta, 404 mm
rainfall was recorded in just 2 days, which as a result caused flash floods in the district. In
Sindh province, due to July 2003 flash floods, a total of 484 human lives were lost and around
4,476 villages were affected [1].
3.3 Flash Floods in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On 14th August 2002, the heavy rainfall occurred around Warsak. A total of about 500 mud
houses were collapsed and 930 partially damaged when heavy flash flood hit the five union
councils namely Mathra, Panam Dheri, Kafoor Dehri, Shahi Bala and Ghari Sherdad. Similarly,
on 4th August 2008, another flash flood hit the northern part of the district. There was a
torrential rainfall in the catchment area of Thara and Chorai hill torrents originating from the
Khyber hills. A total of about 50 villages were affected and approximately 700,000 people were
affected. Besides this, 12 people were also killed due to flash floods [1].
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In August 2020, Karachi got the heaviest downpour in a solitary day ever in its set of
experiences when 231 mm downpour lashed out in only 12 hours. During August 2020, just
Karachi got 484 mm (19 inches) rainfall. It is the most noteworthy precipitation record in the
course of the most recent 90 years. Water and flooded water from nullahs and channels
overflowed the vast majority of the fundamental streets and roads in private areas, countless
neighborhoods including metropolitan ghettos and towns in urban territories, that seriously
disturbed individuals' lives [2].
5 Causes of Floods
Diagnosing the correct cause is maybe the initial move towards recommending a suitable
structure of activity. As 2,000 individuals are being accounted for dead and twenty million
seriously influenced, the new storm in Pakistan is perpetually drawing consideration from
different quarters.
So, there are many reasons that caused huge floods in Pakistan. Some say that monsoon and
heavy rainfall are the main cause of flooding in Pakistan while other says others consider
environmental change, dams and deforestation as playing the trigger for the floods.
As per a story highlighted in Al Jazeera English (August 8, 2010), the commonplace top of the
National Disaster Management Authority has been cited as saying that denudation is one of the
fundamental purposes behind disturbing the floods as just 5.2 percent of land in Pakistan is
covered by backwoods. A nearby association, Sarhad Awami Forestry Ittehad (SAFI), has
asserted that in pieces of Malakand Agency, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, "in excess of 70% of woods
were unlawfully chopped down somewhere in the range of 2007 and 2009, when Pakistani
Taliban controlled the locale." Another report in The Guardian (August 12, 2010) claims that
the flooding has been serious in zones where the lumber mafia is dynamic. It expresses that the
felled trees stacked in gorges to pirate were removed by the power of water, consequently
clearing away extensions, individuals and debilitating the dam dividers along its way. Truth be
told, as per reports, the wood filled the Tarbela dam repository, in this way hindering any extra
room.
Down South, Sindh resonates with a comparable story. While the townspeople and the
neighborhood individuals have been opposing the property managers and the Army from illicit
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infringement of land, the state reaction has been practically sassy. According to the accessible
realities, woodlands cover just 2.3 percent of the complete land space of Sindh and reports
guarantee that the breaking down state of the backwoods abstain them from adding to lumber,
fuel wood or grain. Reports have been constantly flooding the media that illicit tree removing
has been conveyed at an enormous scope along the waterway banks and the riverine backwoods
in Northern Sindh. The lumber mafia whose activities regularly go unchecked because of their
connections with the political authority in North Sindh has been blamed for upsetting the
sensitive equilibrium in the eco-framework [3].
6 Impacts of Floods
There are several impacts of flood that contributes due to enormous flooding
6.1 Environmental impacts
Wildlife and Livestock Health and Well-being
o Flood reduce the level of biodiversity, habitat potential and food present in the
ecosystem, creating long-term impacts for surviving wildlife
o Livestock unable to relocate to higher ground in time were washed away by
flood waters or forced to stand in polluted water until rescued.
Riverbank and Sedimentation
o Riverbank erosion is caused by high and fast-moving water that exceeds
riverbanks.
o Flood waters can carry large amounts of sediment and leave deposits behind
once flood water recede.
Dispersal of Nutrients and Pollution
o Flood water can contain debris, pollutants and nutrients.
o Pollutants in flood water, such as bacteria and pesticides, can be carried far
distances.
o Sedimentation and turbidity can result in the growth of algae and
phytoplankton blooms that jeopardize water quality.
Replenishment of Surface and Groundwater
o One of the positive direct benefits of flooding is the replenishment of surface
water and groundwater supplies
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o The replenishment of supplies can benefit soil, resulting in healthy crops and
pastures.
Local Landscape and Habitat
o In urban areas, flooding can be extremely damaging and costly, as it can
negatively impact infrastructure, homes and business.
o Flooding has a more positive impact on the natural environment as flood water
provides nourishment to the landscape [4].
Other health concerns, such as malaria, skin diseases, acute respiratory infection are a major
concern [4].
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practiced. Because of 2 % of the country population is living below poverty line. In addition to
this, 98 % population are Muslim and insurance is prohibited in Islam [1].
7.2.5 Building Regulation
This policy has been considered as a major long-term instrument for reducing the adverse
effects of flood hazard. It is implemented by using building codes legally to restrict certain
types of development in areas of high risk. This can improve existing buildings or replace
vulnerable ones gradually by more flood resistant constructions. In the case of new or/and
expanding settlements, appropriate building codes must be stipulated. This should however, be
helpful to reduce the risk when applied in combination with protective measures and land use
zoning [1].
7.2.6 Flood Risk Mapping and Zoning
A flood risk map is a graphical representation of flood characteristics along with the
topography, while a flood risk map plots the associated potential damages. The prime objective
of flood zoning regulations must be maximizing the net-benefits from flood plains, rather than
aiming solely at minimizing flood damages. In Pakistan, there is lack of flood risk assessment
and mapping. Although flood management policies in Pakistan recognize the importance of
non-structural measures including land use planning and risk mapping but concrete steps need
to be taken for its implementation [1].
In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, floods mainly occur in the Kabul, Swat, Panjkora,
Chitral and Kurrum rivers. Most often these floods have flash flood characteristics. In addition
to this, flash floods also occur in the seasonal hill torrents/nullah and heavy flow generate due
to steep slope. In the entire province, riverbank erosion and changing river course are some of
alarming issues for the flood plain managers. Due to short preparedness and lack of early
warning, such floods cause severe damages. In critical breaching areas, marginal protective
embankments and guided head spur have been constructed to mitigate the impacts of flood
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losses. Similar, the nature and characteristics of floods in Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and AJK is
not different than the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [1].
Keeping in view the recent climate change scenario, the Government planning machinery has
recently developed a long-term Comprehensive Flood Management Plan (2012–2022), where
stress has been made proactive approach. The country Flood Forecasting & Warning System
will further be upgraded and expended by installation of new Weather Radars and expansion
of Flood Telemetry Network Stations. All such efforts would help in flood forecasting and
early warning system considerably and minimize future flood damages [1].
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9 References
[1] Muhammad Yahya Maqbool, Shahzad Hussain, "Institutional Framework for Disaster
Risk Management in Pakistan: Issues,Challenges and Policy Recommendations," Disaster
Risk Management and Climate Change for Business Continuity and Sustainable
Development , vol. 10, 2017.
[2] "Wikipedia," List of floods in Pakistan, 10 december 2020. [Online]. Available:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_floods_in_Pakistan.
[3] M. Bisht, "IDSA comment," Pakistan Floods: Causes and Consequences, 19 August 2010.
[Online]. Available:
https://idsa.in/idsacomments/PakistanFloodsCausesandConsequences_mbisht_190810.
[4] "World Health Organiztion," Pakistan: the health impact of the floods, Semptember 2010.
[Online]. Available: https://www.who.int/hac/crises/pak/highlights/september2010/en/.
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