Analysis of flood causes and associated socio-economic damages in the Hindukush region |
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Authors: | Atta-ur-Rahman Amir Nawaz Khan |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan;(2) Centre for Disaster Preparedness and Management, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan |
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Abstract: | Pakistan is exposed to numerous hazards, but the problem of recurrent floods has been causing massive losses to lives and
other properties. Swat valley is no exception to it. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyse the causes and associated
socio-economic impacts of floods on the Swat valley, Pakistan. Swat valley falls in the Hindukush region, North-west-Pakistan.
The valley has been studied with special reference to its physical and socio-economic environment. Similarly, three-sample
villages were also randomly selected from the active floodplain for micro-level analysis. The sample villages include Ningolai,
Delay and Ghureijo. All the three-sample communities are located on the right bank of river Swat. This area is located in
the active flood zone of Swat valley. The analysis revealed that in the study area, floods occur during summer season, which
is mainly caused by heavy rainfall as well as rapid melting of snow and glacier. Besides these, there are some floods intensifying
factors, which accelerate intensity of floods and enhance resultant damages in the valley. It was found that during flood
season, water overflows the natural levees and trigger tremendous loses to housing, agricultural land, standing crops and
other properties. The flood-related Government Departments have only implemented limited structural mitigation measures. However,
in addition to structural measure, land-use zoning and flood abatement strategies would largely help in reducing the adverse
consequences of this recurrent phenomenon. |
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