Flood: A Bane to 30 Million Indians

Bangalore: Floods are the most frequently occurring natural disaster. It takes the lives of more than 30 million people on an average during the monsoon season every year in India. But on the other hand, the 60 percent farmland of the country, its 66 percent livestock and its whole forest areas are totally dependent on rains for its existence, as reported by Atul Thakur for TOI.

On an average, 7.21 million hectares of land, roughly around 72,000 sq km go under floodwater as given out in the latest report by Central Water Commission (CWC). Every year the rain damages 3.78 million hectares of agricultural land and Rs 1,118 crore worth crops.

Every year almost 1700 people fall prey to floods, resulting to loss of lives and 1.25 lakh houses are destroyed by heavy rains which also kill nearly 96,000 livestock.

In CWC’s report on 'financial aspects of flood control, anti-sea erosion and drainage projects', it stated that it was not possible to give complete safety and assistance to all flood affected areas right away.

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