Flood: A Bane to 30 Million Indians

The CWC’s data reveals that the year 1977, 1978 and 1979 were the worst-hit years for flood related problems. But India witnessed some decline from 1953 to 2011 when it comes to flood-affected areas.

The floods of the year 1977 which took the lives of more than 11,000 people were six times the average for the 59 years between 1953 and 2011. But the floods of 1978 were most vicious where 17 million hectares of land was immersed in water affecting more than 70 million people.

3.5 million houses were washed away in 1978 floods which is twice the 59-year average. In the year 1979, the floods mopped down 6.2 lakh cattle, the highest for that time.

The recent floods of 2009 were far more destructive in terms of loss of finances. There was a total loss of crops, houses and public utilities worth Rs 32,541 crore which is the maximum for any year. The loss of Rs 7,298 crore was incurred in 2003 floods destroying the crops, reported TOI.

The Rashtriya Barh Ayog-RBA (National Flood Commission) was set up for the implementation of flood control policy in 1976. But the commission also failed to implement its programme successfully.

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