FLOODS

Floods is a state of high water level along a river channels or on coast that leads to inundation of land. Floods are caused by excessive rainfall by the monsoons, tropical cyclones in the pre post monsoon periods, melting of ice and snow, storm surge silting of the river beds, changes in the river courses and deforestation. Floods occur commonly when water in the form of surface run-off exceeds the carrying capacity of the river channels and streams and flows into the neighboring low-lying flood plains. At times, this even goes beyond the capacity of lakes and other inland water bodies in which they flow. Flood is a natural hazard and it becomes a disaster when it inflicts heavy losses to life and property. Apart from natural forces such as heavy rainfall, snow melt, cyclones etc. unwanted human activities have played their own part in the genesis as well as spread of floods. Some such activates are indiscriminate deforestation, unscientific agricultural practices, disturbances along the natural drainage channels and colonization of flood-plain and river-beds.