Floods Definition
Floods are natural disasters characterized by the overflow of water onto normally dry land, submerging it and causing various degrees of damage. This overflow can result from heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, storm surges, dam failures, or other events that lead to an increase in water levels. Floods can occur in rivers, coastal areas, urban regions, and other landscapes, and their impact can range from localized to widespread, affecting communities, infrastructure, agriculture, and the environment.
Though the main reason for floods is monsoons, the situation of river basins, changing of river courses, and narrowing of river channels due to human settlements, excessive cutting of trees in the hill slopes, unmanaged development work being carried out in hilly areas, etc are other factors responsible for floods.
According to the water resource development of the Government of India, 60% of the losses caused by the floods are due to river floods and 40% by excessive and cyclonic rainfall. The National Flood Commission has estimated that about 40 million hectares of land area of the country is flood-affected. Despite various flood control methods about 7.7 million hectares of land, which includes 3.5 million hectares of gross cultivated land is affected by floods every year. When floods are at their peak about 10 million hectares of land gets affected.
Floods: Definition, Types, Causes and Effects
Floods occur when there is an overflow of water onto normally dry land. This can happen due to heavy rainfall, melting snow or ice, storms, or other factors that cause water levels to rise beyond their usual limits. Floods can lead to widespread damage, affecting homes, infrastructure, and the environment.
In this article, We have discussed the Definition of Floods, Types of floods, it’s causes – their impact, and many more.
Let’s dive right in.
Floods: Definition, Types, Causes and Effects