Managing Flood Hazard: Study of Kosi Flood 2008 in IndiaVirender Singh Negi Geohazards in the form of disaster destroy more property and kill more people with each passing year. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, fires and other natural events are becoming more frequent and their consequences more devastating. While some of the worst disasters to befall people are the result of human activity, the most widespread destruction is caused by events that result from natural processes way beyond the power of humans to contain or control. Because they are naturally occurring, natural disasters pose an ever present threat which can only be dealt with through proper planning and preparedness. Floods can be such devastating disasters that anyone can be affected at almost any time. As we have seen, when water falls on the surface of the Earth, it has to go somewhere. Hazards associated with flooding can be divided into primary hazards that occur due to contact with water, secondary effects that occur because of the flooding, such as disruption of services, health impacts such as famine and disease, and tertiary effects such as changes in the position of river channels. A breach in Eastern Afflux Bund of Kosi Embankment 12.10 km to 12.90 km, upstream of Kosi Barrage at Birpur has occurred on 18th August 2008. Due to this breach in the embankment, flood water from Nepal side entered into Supaul District of Bihar State in India. The flood water has inundated a vast area of Supaul, Madhepura & Araria districts of Bihar and it further spread into adjoining districts of Purnea and Saharsa. Due to breach the river has changed its course that widened to more than two kms, causing devastation in Bihar. The Kosi River remains the river of sorrow of the Bihar, it shifted from east to west over 12O km in the last 200 years. In the past about 8000 km2 of lands have been laid waste as a result of the sand deposit. In course of shifting, many towns and villages were wiped out, and heavy losses of property, cattle, and human life were inflicted. During the flood and its aftermath the flood victims of Kosi River are facing the fury of nature. The present paper highlights causes, the flood situation in the area affected and the flood disaster management by the team of students of Shaheed Bhagat Singh (E.) College of University of Delhi, India. |
