Vulnerability to Floods

The global human population is susceptible to floods. Because more people are being exposed to the negative effects of floods, their effects have become more important in recent years. Studies on vulnerability seek to identify appropriate steps that can be performed to lessen risk before the potential harm is experienced.

Floods:

• The nation’s flood plains and rivers account for more than 40 million hectares (12%) of all land.
• The area flooded annually is approximately 7.5 million hectares.
• Climate-related hazards such as flooding are among the most severe in India. Nearly 80 percent (32 million ha) of the 40 million hectares of floodprone land can be reasonably protected, according to the National Commission on Floods.
• The average number of lives lost, homeless, destroyed crops, and injured animals every year is around a few hundred.
• There is a variable degree of vulnerability to floods in most states in this country. High Vulnerability States/UTs include Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala.

India is extremely vulnerable to flooding. Over 40 million hectares (mha) of the 329 million hectares (mha) total geographic area are at risk of flooding. Floods are a frequent occurrence that result in significant human casualties as well as damage to property, infrastructure, and public services. The fact that flood-related damages are on the rise is cause for alarm.