FLOODS

FLOOD TYPES & FLOODS IN PAKISTAN

Jawad Bashir

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY 09
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FLOODS
A flood (in Old English flood, a word common to Teutonic languages;
compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in
flow, float) is an overflow of water, an expanse of water submerging
land, a deluge. In the sense of "flowing water", the word is applied to
the inflow of the tide, as opposed to the outflow or "ebb".
OR
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land, a
deluge. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied
to the inflow of the tide
.
Flooding may result from the volume of water within a body of water,
such as a river or lake, which overflows, with the result that some of
the water escapes its normal boundaries. It is recognized world over
that floods are the most destructive of natural hazards and the
greatest cause of large-scale damages to lives and property. Over the
years, major floods have occurred in almost all the South Asian
countries, causing huge loss of life and property.Despite the
investment of millions, even billions of dollars in efforts to tame the
rivers of the region, the frequency of major flood disasters has actually
increased over the past 25 to 30 years. There is a growing consensus
that the impacts of climate change may well lead to an
increase in both the frequency and the magnitude of floods.

Types of Flooding
Flooding can be divided into different categories according to their
duration:

1. Slow-Onset Floods

• Slow-Onset Floods usually last for a relatively longer period, it

may last for one or more weeks, or even months. As this kind of
flood last for a long period, it can lead to lose of stock, damage
to agricultural products, roads and rail links.

2. Rapid-Onset Floods

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• Rapid-Onset Floods last for a relatively shorter period, they

usually last for one or two days only. Although this kind of flood
lasts for a shorter period, it can cause more damages and pose a
greater risk to life and property as people usually have less time
to take preventative action during rapid-onset floods.

3. Flash Floods

• Flash Floods may occur within minutes or a few hours after

heavy rainfall, tropical storm, failure of dams or levees or
releases of ice jams. And it causes the greatest damages to
society.
•

Flood Types(Location)
Flooding can also be divided into different categories according to their
location:

1. Coastal Floods

• Coastal Floods usually occur along coastal areas. When there are
hurricanes and tropical storms which will produce heavy rains, or
giant tidal waves created by volcanoes or earthquakes, ocean
water may be driven onto the coastal areas and cause coastal
floods.

2. Arroyos Floods

• A arroyo is river which is normally dry. When there are storms

approaching these areas, fast-moving river will normally form
along the gully and cause damages.

3. River Floods

• This is the most common type of flooding. When the actual

amount of river flow is larger than the amount that the channel
can hold, river will overflow its banks and flood the areas
alongside the river. And this may cause by reasons like snow
melt or heavy spring rain.

4. Urban Floods

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• In most of the urban area, roads are usually paved. With heavy
rain, the large amount of rain water cannot be absorbed into the
ground and leads to urban floods.

CAUSES OF FLOODS
Natural causes of floods:
1.High rainfall

Heavy rainfall raises the water level. When the water level is
higher than the river bank or the dams, the water comes out
from the river, there will have a flooding.

2.Snowmelt

Because of the global warming, the temperature of this year is

higher than the temperature of many years ago. The ice caps
melt in spring, many water go into the sea. The water raises the
sea level, and makes the river level raise. When river level
raises, flooding may cause.

3.Relief

Flooding often occurs in lowland. This is because rivers flow more

slowly in low-lying area. If the water volume increases suddenly, floods
occur.

4.Coastal flooding

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Flooding always occur in coastal areas. Because there have high tides
orstorms,the sea level will raise. If the sea level is higher than the level
of the coastal lowland, flooding will occur.

5.Tsunamis

Tsunamis are high, large waves, typically caused by undersea

earthquakes or massive explosions, such as the eruption of an
undersea volcano. They can also bring the floods in near costal areas.

Human causes of floods

1.Deforestation

Large areas of forests near the rivers have been cleared. The lands use
to make room for settlement, roads and farmland. Less vegetation
protect the soil, the soil is quickly lost to rivers and sea. This raises the
river bed, so the river overflows its banks easily.

HOW DEFORESTATION LEED TO FLOODING

• No trees to soak up water, so more water flows into the rivers.

• No trees to build the soil together, so soil erosion takes place.

Large amounts of soil are washed by rain into the rivers.

• Because of silting, riverbed shallower. The water volume

increases, the river cannot hold all the water and overflows its
banks.

2. Poor farming

Some farming practices can damage the vegetation cover, so the soil
will be washed into the river easily.

• Overgrazing
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People want more food and money, they graze too many animals
on the land and the pasture is eaten away quickly. Less
vegetation cover, soil washed into the rivers easily.

• Over cultivation

When a piece of land has been used for farming for a long period
of time, the soil may became so infertile that no vegetation can
grow on it. The land less fertile than before, so the soil washed
into the rivers more easily.

3.Poor water management

When the dams are poorly constructed or maintained ,they can easily
collapse and this results in flooding.

4. Population pressure

Because of large amount of people, everything need more, like wood,

land and food……Soil erosion happen more often, it increases the risk
of flooding.

Methods Use For Flood Discharge Control

1 Stream Hydrographs

Graphs of stream stage or flow over time are called stream

hydrographs. Hydrographs show fluctuating water levels over
differing time scales. Over a period of days, a storm hydrograph shows
the stream's response to a rainfall event. Over a year, an annual
hydrograph shows the seasonal fluctuations in stream flow. Over
multiple years, annual variations in stream flow due to variations in
rainfall patterns can be viewed.

2 Airborne synthetic aperture radar

A special type of device is use to capture and record the stream stage
flow and for this purpose a air vehicle such as plane or helicopter is
use.

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3 Manual stage height Method

A manual-stage-height method does not produce a continuous record
but is typically only a single point in time measurement. Stage height
is directly read from either a standard staff gage, wire weight gage
(WWG) or measured from a reference point (RP). .

Satellite 2D Modeling
In this method latest satellite equipped with various tools are use to
measure floods and stream discharge rate very accurately.

Flooding Precautions
Following steps should be taken before and after the flood for safety
purposes

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 Before building, check the area for signs or

history of flooding and find out how many feet
above flood level you need to build your house.
 Do not throw garbage into drains and rivers.
 Put sandbags by exposed openings.
 Turn off gas and electricity. Unplug electrical
Before appliances.
a  Put dangerous, flammable or explosive
liquids in a safe place and close containers
flo
securely.
od  Seal important personal, legal and business
documents in watertight containers and place
above flood height.
 Take furniture to upper floors or raise on a
sturdy table.
 Secure vehicles.
 Turn on a battery-powered radio.
During a  Evacuate and avoid flooded areas.
flo  Do not try to cross water courses.
od  If your car gets stuck, abandon it
immediately.
 Drinking water
 Food
 First Aid/Hygiene Kit
Before  Flashlight and extra batteries
Flood  Portable radio and extra batteries
ing -  A fully charged cellular phone if you own
Have one
the  Saw
follo  Hammer
wing  Wooden planks
suppl  Nails
ies  Sand bags
ready  Plastic sheeting
at a  Have a plan using plastic sheeting and
safe sand bags to seal doorways to prevent water
place entering your home.
:  Move vehicles to high ground
 Tie down containers with inflammable or
combustible material.

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 Listen to a portable radio.

 Move belongings to an upper floor or to
safe ground if time permits.
 Move appliances off floor level.
 Turn off electricity and gas. Turn off gas at
the tank and electricity at the mains switch.
 Avoid areas that you know flood easily.
During the Release animals and poultry.
Flood  Keep children indoors and upstairs.
ing:  If your car stalls, or becomes stuck,
abandon it and climb to higher ground or onto
the vehicle's roof.
 Do not move at night unless absolutely
necessary.
 Do not go into fast-moving water that is
more than a few inches deep.
 Check on your neighbours.
 Inspect building for damage. There can be
danger from collapsing buildings.
 Stay away from all fallen wires.
 Stay away from water with fallen wires in it
or nearby.
 Do not turn on your electricity if the water
has come even close to plug height.
 Do not turn on electricity while there is
water in your house. Do not turn on electricity
standing barefoot on a wet floor.
After the  Do not turn on appliances that have been
floodi in the floodwater. Let them dry out
ng: completely and spray motors, switches, and
connectors, with CRC. Appliances can take
several days to dry out. Switch on with great
care.
 Do not use food that has come in contact
with floodwater. Do not drink, cook with or
bathe in floodwater.
 Remember damaged sewer systems, septic
tanks and latrines are very, very serious
health hazards.
 Take photographs of your property, if
damaged, for insurance purposes.

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 [FLOODSS] September 16, 2009

 Gas: If you smell gas or hear blowing and

hissing noises, open a window and door and
turn off the gas at the tank. Do not turn off
lights or appliances. Get out of the building
How to fast and stay out. After about an hour of
inspe allowing the gas to dissipate through open
ct for doors and windows, if you still smell gas, call
gas, the Fire Service at 991. Do not re-enter the
electr building until it has been checked by a
icity, professional.
water  Electrical Systems: If you smell burning,
and see sparks or broken and frayed wires switch
sewer off the electricity at the mains panel. Make
age sure you are wearing dry rubber soled shoes
probl and you are not standing in water. Proceed
ems with extreme care.
in  Sewerage and Water Line Damage: If the
your water lines are damaged, do not drink water
home from the tap, use your emergency water
: supply. Damaged water lines can lead to
contaminated water. To check for damaged
sewer lines try flushing your toilet. If it backs
up the line is not good.

Effects Of Flooding
Primary effects

• Physical damage - Can range anywhere from bridges, cars,

buildings, sewer systems, roadways, canals and any other type
of structure.
• Casualties - People and livestock die due to drowning. It can also
lead to epidemics and diseases.

Secondary effects

• Water supplies - Contamination of water. Clean drinking water

becomes scarce.
• Diseases - Unhygienic conditions. Spread of water-borne
diseases
• Crops and food supplies - Shortage of food crops can be caused
due to loss of entire harvest.However, lowlands near rivers

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depend upon river silt deposited by floods in order to add

nutrients to the local soil.
• Trees - Non-tolerant species can die from suffocation.

long-term effects

• Economic - Economic hardship, due to: temporary decline in

tourism, rebuilding costs, food shortage leading to price increase
etc.

How To Control Flooding

1. To control the water level Dam and pumping station.
2. Build barriers.
3. Alter the river’s channel.
4. Control land use.
5. Flood plain zoning.
6. By taking Emergency measures.
7. By making structure compacted.
8. Construction of Retention Ponds.

FLOODS IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan is one of the five South Asian countries with the highest
annual average
number of people physically exposed to floods, which occur normally
due to storm systemsthat originate from Bay of Bengal during the
monsoon from July to September. The stormsoriginating in Bay of
Bengal passing over lower Central India and Rajputana, enter Pakistan
and continue towards North into Kashmir. The mountain ranges in the
extreme north of Pakistan provide a perennial source of inflow into the
rivers.

Floods particularly hit Punjab andSindh while hill torrents tend to effect
the hilly areas of North Western Frontier Province,Balochistan and the
northern federally administered areas. Flood events of 1950, 1992
and1998 caused many deaths and huge losses to the national
economy. According to official sources, floods in Pakistan during the
decade 1991 to 2001 caused an estimated damage of over Pak Rs
78,000 million to property.

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Year Live lost Villagers Affected

1950 2910 10000
1955 670 6945
1956 160 11609
1973 474 9719
1975 126 8628
1976 425 9150
1978 393 9199
1988 508 10000
1992 1008 13208
1995 591 6852
1998 47 1610
2001 202 0.4 million
2004 435 4900
2006 789 67990
2007 204 1.1 million
Rainfall during the period occurs due to the monsoonal systems (Lows
or depressions) coming either from the Arabian Sea or from the Bay of
Bengal.

The frequency of
monsoon depressions
formed in Bay of Bengal is about 80% of the total number of
depressions formed in the
South Asia monsoon region .Relatively few monsoon depressions form
in the east Arabian Sea and over land in monsoon trough region. The
average annual frequency of monsoon depression is seven, of which
one occurs in June and two each in July, August and September. The
monsoon depression normally takes a west-northwesterly course
during the peak monsoon months of July and August, while they move
in a northwesterly direction during the transition period in early June
and late September. The depression generally weaken after crossing
the central parts of India, owing to the cut-off in the moisture supply,
the move further northwest and merge in the seasonal low over west
Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan. When the depressions are fed by
fresh moisture supply from the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon,
the depression may retain their intensity and take a westerly course to
reach Gujarat state of India, causing very heavy rains in the region. On
some occasions the westerly wave passing over the north of Pakistan
may take the depression under its grip and it may move in the north
ward direction, causing heavy rains in the upper areas of Punjab and
adjoining areas of NWFP and Kashmir.

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MAJOR FLOOD EVENTS IN PAKISTAN

1992 FLOODS
During the summer monsoon season in 1992 heavy rainfall occurred
over the Jhelum
River basin (Fig.1) in the month of September which caused severe
flooding in the
Jhelum River. This was the worst event recorded since 1959 and
brought in its wake large
Economic losses and infrastructure damage in Pakistan. This severe
flooding event was
induced by the severe precipitation event associated with the summer
monsoon
depression traveling from Bay of Bengal through India to upper parts of
Punjab andadjoining areas of Kashmir and North West Frontier Province
of Pakistan.

CAUSE OF 1992 FLOODING:

Cause of this flooding is heavy precipitation during 1990-1992.

During the month of June rainfall over Pakistan occurred due to the
passage of westerly
wave in the north of Pakistan. A trough developed in the upper air at
500hpa in north of
Pakistan and moderate rainfall occurred on two occasions in the
northern divisions.
Moderate to heavy rainfall also occurred in Bangladesh, eastern coast
and western Ghatts
of India. During July, the weather activities over Pakistan were mainly
due to the
presence of a trough in the north of Pakistan at 500hpa. There were
three spells in this
month. The first spell was weak. It caused rainfall of light to moderate
intensity where as
the last two spells gave moderate to heavy rainfall over almost all
catchment’s areas of the rivers.

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Floods in 2007
At least 241 have been killed and 204 missing in the flood related incidents, A
total of 111 died in southwest province of Baluchistan, 100 in south province
Sindh and 30 in North West Frontier Province, Some 1.1 million people have
been affected in Baluchistan and 100,000 displaced. A total of 15 out of 29
districts across Baluchistan have been affected while five districts in Sindh
have been affected. Infrastructure has been severely undermined with roads
and bridges damaged or destroyed and telecommunications out in many
area.

Causes of 2007 Floods:

This flood was caused due to over flow of water and Heavy rain Flood waters
have been flowing from Baluchistan into Sindh causing flood canals to
overflow and inundate villages and farmland. Heavy rains lashed different
parts of Baluchistan in the wake of a tropical cyclone which hit
southern Pakistan's coastal areas on January 24.

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AUGUST 2008 Flood in N.W.F.P

On August 4, 2008, the torrential rain water flooded a local stream

(Thara Khur) which flows from Landi Kotal to Charsada causing great
havoc in Peshawar district. The affected area includes Shalman, Bara
and Tatara, Ali Masjid, Takhtabaig, Lal China and Sur Kamar of Khyber
Agency. About 50 villages in the upper part of Peshawar district were
inundated which include Pir Bala, Potohar bala, Mathara, Ashab baba,
Sheikhano kalay, Dag, Khushal Bagh, Warsak Road, Hassan Garhi,
Babo Garhi, Alizai, Qanriza, Baram Khel, Garhi Muqam Shah, Harayana,
Khaderkhel, Bakhsho Pul, and Nasapa Bala

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15 Union Councils and 700,000 population of

district Peshawar are badly affected.

COMPOSITION OF PUNJAB SOIL

The fertile plains of Punjab boast of producing more than two-third of
the food grains produced annually in pakistan. This is largely owing to
the fertile soil of Punjab. Climatic differences result in a variety of soil
which ultimately culminates into a wide range of crops and vegetation
in Punjab. South-western Punjab is mainly dominated by calcareous
soil which includes desert soil and sucrose soil. The pH value in this
zone ranges from 7.8 to 8.5 and also have grey and red desert soil,
calisoil soil, regosol soil and alluvial soil. The soil of central Punjab
ranges from sandy loam to clayey with pH value from 7.8 to 8.5
making alkalinity and salinity problematic for this place. The alluvial
soil of this zone can be widely described as arid and brown soil or
tropical arid brown soil. The soil in Eastern Punjab is loamy to clayey.

COMPOSITION OF SINDH SOIL

Sindh soil is mainly composed of highly silica content and that’s why it
is permeable, allowing the un compacted structures to fall quickly. The
Indus deltas and tributaries bring different type of soils in this area,
and that’s why the rate of water consumption is various at various
places, At northern part of Sindh the soil is some how compacted, but
as we move down to south the compaction of soil loss, This allowing
the water to runoff quickly and cause floods near tributaries. The area
near Gawadar is consist of Compacted and highly porous rocks.

COMPOSITION OF BALOUCHISTAN SOIL

In Balouchistan mainly the floods are caused due to the Arroyos

floods, this is because of the relief ,less vegetation, gradient and
surface runoff water.Soil in Balouchistan is mainly consisting of lithified
soil types.The Major part of Balouchistan consist of permeable

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rocks,soil here support massive flooding due to water runoof specially

in regions of Chaman,loralai and Kholu.

FLOODS PREVENTION METHODS IN PAKISTAN

ACCORDING TO PROVINCE

PUNJAB

1. The flood protection bunds have been generally constructed either to

protect headwork’s and other irrigation structures, or to safeguard certain
towns and villages.

2. Due to general topography of the area sloping towards the south west,
the embankments along headwork’s and irrigation structures have been
constructed in such a way that breaching sections are provided on the
right marginal bunds to give relief to water heading up against the left
marginal bunds and keep the flow through the Barrages within safe limits
for the hydraulic structures.

3. In order to protect areas from erosion, spurs have been constructed.

These spurs have protected the areas and in some cases even the eroded
lands have been recovered.

SINDH

1. The Indus River flows on a ridge in Sindh Province, and surrounding areas
are generally lower than the river bed hence, water once spilling over the
bunds does not return back..

2. Sindh is situated on a receiving end of drainage of all the rivers and if

flood protection measures adopted in the upper reaches are not properly
planned, severe damages are likely to occur in the Province, To minimize
such eventualities, double line of flood embankments has been
constructed along almost both the banks from Guddu to few kilometers
short of sea. The embankments have been further compartmentalized to
contain widespread inundation.

BALOUCHISTAN

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1. Due to peculiar physiographic and climatic characteristics in Balouchistan,

mostly embankments and flood walls have been constructed to protect
orchards or abbacies from flood damages.
2. Some bunds have also been constructed to serve as flood diversion/abate
ment measures.

N.W.F.P

1. In NWFP, the floods are mainly due to flashy hill torrents having steep bed
slopes, which greatly increase flood velocity and severely erode the
banks.
2. Mostly spurs have been constructed to save the areas from erosion.

DETAILS OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES EXECUTED

Province No.
of Schemes
Punjab 33
Sindh 23
NWFP 20
Balochistan 12
Total
88

IRRIGATINONAL SYSTEM OF PAKISTAN

The Irrigation System of Pakistan is the largest integrated irrigation

network in the world,
Serving 42 million acres of contiguous cultivated land. The system is fed
by the waters of Indus rives and its tributaries.

Structure
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Major Storage Reservoirs 3

Barrages
19
Inter-River Link Canals 12
Independent Irrigation Canal Commands
14
Large Dams (Approx. 3.00 MAF) of 15 meter and above 82

The major storage reservoirs include Tarbela (existing Live Storage

Capacity = 6.948 MAF
against original 9.70 MAF), Chashma (existing Live Storage Capacity =
0.435 MAF against
original 0.70 MAF) on River Indus and Mangla (existing Live Storage
Capacity = 4.542
MAF against original 5.30 MAF) on River Jhelum. The total length of main
canals/
distributaries and minors is 64,000 KM. Watercourses comprise another
1,621,000 KM.

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ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL FLOOD

COMMISSION IN PAKISTAN

1. After creation of Pakistan, a Central Engineering Authority was

constituted under Chief Engineering Adviser to deal with the issues
of water, power and allied engineering matters At National level.

2. In 1977 Federal Flood Commission was established for the purpose

of integrated flood management at national level.

3. In 1982 a Federal Coordination Cell (now re-designated as FID Cell)

was established to coordinate activities of the Provincial Irrigation
Departments in particular in the drainage sector

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4. In 1987 Dam Safety Council was established to carry out inspection

of existing dams and plans for new dams etc.

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