Floods in Pakistan and Reasons

Nearly every year Pakistan is hit by long-suffering floods especially in the season of monsoon. On 13 September 2014, Pakistan confronted another devastating situation of a tsunami. The deluge originated from Jammu Kashmir and demolished the whole kit and caboodle that came in its way. As the tidal waves progressed further south, elevating the water level at Panjnad where it touched 116,000 cu secs, drowning areas in Mittan Kot.

The heavy monsoon downpours caused the water level in rivers to rise and the dykes overflowed resulting in chaos in the areas. On 5 September, the Jehlum River in Srinagar was reported to be flowing at 22.40 feet (6.83 m) which was 4.40 feet (1.34 m) above the danger mark. The key cause of this overflow was the torrential rain falls which people and our government wasn’t ready to encounter. Additionally, when India unbolted their spillways to release water it added up to the critical situation and it got further out of hands.

The floods instigated much turmoil all across the country, and the malignant crashing waves left many people homeless and many lost their loved ones. Their only source of income – livestock, drowned. The crops had ripened and were ready to be harvested however they were completely in ruins after the flood. 2500 villages were demolished. The army carried out a rescue operation and evacuated a large number of people.

Many are now forced to live in the filthy tents, and are deprived of pure drinking water and food – the basic necessities for survival. Eating stale food and drinking unclean water is resulting in fatal diseases like diarrhea among the children and adults.

Pakistan’s metropolitan office (PMD) sent out flood warnings several days ago but no decisive action was taken by the government. It is the prerequisite of the time to construct dams, so that water is stored in reservoirs and is utilized in a sustainable way by fighting off both floods and droughts. Flood is a natural catastrophe. It cannot be completely stopped but its affects can be reduced. Therefore, firm action must be taken in order to avoid such a calamity from repeating itself.