1. Community Involvement in Mapping

Here is the level of people different kind of stakeholders starting from our GCOE that is global centre of excellence, human security engineering of Kyoto university team and Local community members and municipal corporations Greater Mumbai especially the involvement of the G-North wards, like we help them in mapping and I say, we also work as the surveyors, and explaining and introducing community the role and objective of the survey.

This chunk discusses the various stakeholders involved in the mapping project. The Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) specializes in human security engineering, and it collaborates with local community members and municipal authorities in Greater Mumbai, particularly in the G-North wards. The GCOE team plays a crucial role in not only mapping but also in explaining the mapping process and its objectives to the community, which ensures that everyone understands how they can contribute to this effort.

Imagine a team of researchers coming to a small village to help improve the living conditions. They do not just bring their own knowledge; they involve villagers in every step so that the solutions they propose reflect the community's needs and understanding. This way, the villagers become key players in improving their home, just as local members did in the mapping process.

Local community was the key Informant one of the main actor in this process and MCGM or Municipal Corporations also helped us providing logistics support, helping in building rapport with the people, facilitative say religious and political organizations.

In this chunk, it is highlighted that local communities served as essential informants for the mapping initiative. Additionally, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) provided logistical support and helped build relationships with the community. This assistance was crucial for engaging with various organizations, including religious and political entities, which helped facilitate better communication and cooperation among stakeholders.

Think of a community festival where local organizations and governments come together to support a common cause, such as organizing a clean-up event. The local government provides resources and helps coordinate efforts, much like how the MCGM provided logistical support in this mapping initiative, connecting people and resources for a common goal.

We collected a lot of data there starting from land-use data, residential, commercial, public, playground, infrastructure what are the infrastructures are there, Doctors clinic, community toilet, community taps, school.

This chunk outlines the different types of data collected during the mapping process. It includes various land-use categories such as residential (housing), commercial (business areas), and public spaces like playgrounds and infrastructure (schools, community facilities). This comprehensive data collection is vital to understand the layout and services available in the community, ensuring that all necessary factors are considered in the mapping project.

Consider a chef planning a menu based on seasonal ingredients. They must know the local produce available, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. Similarly, the mapping team gathers data on the community's infrastructure and land use to create an accurate and effective neighborhood map.

Hazard parameters we considered, flood duration, water level during the flood, areas frequently affected, building height, building materials, building conditions, plinth level these all we collected.

This part emphasizes the hazardous factors taken into account during the project. Understanding the flood duration, water levels, and areas frequently affected allows the team to assess risks effectively. Additionally, factors like building height, materials, and conditions are crucial for understanding how resilient the community is to potential hazards.

Just as a fire department assesses which buildings are at risk in case of a fire, the mapping team studies various hazardous factors that could affect the community during floods. Knowing how water levels can rise helps emergency responders and residents plan better for safety.

In 2006 after 2006 lot of residential areas this is actually a road this is one of the fraction of the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, many are transferred into commercial areas. People started to build G+1 structure in though this is not allowed, but community allowed that community reported that many people are now constructing G+1 structure in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar okay.

This section discusses the transformation of residential areas into commercial spaces after 2006, particularly noting changes in the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar area where people began constructing additional floors (G+1 structures). Although such construction was not permitted, community acceptance led to increased building activities. Understanding these changes is essential for adapting the mapping initiative to the evolving community landscape.

Similar to how neighborhoods change over time, where a house may become a small cafe or shop, this chunk shows how residential areas can evolve due to community needs and acceptance, reflecting the dynamic nature of urban living.

Their infrastructures were not grooved, you can see the drainage quality here. Also the electricity supply; it can easily electrified, and current can kill people during emergency or flood inundations.

This chunk highlights significant infrastructure challenges the community faces, particularly concerning poor drainage and unreliable electricity supply. Inefficient drainage systems can lead to flooding, while hazardous electricity situations can result in life-threatening conditions, especially during emergencies.

Imagine a house with a leaking roof. Not only does it cause discomfort; over time, it leads to more significant issues like mold and structural damage. Similarly, inadequate infrastructure like poor drainage and unsafe electricity increases vulnerability, especially in emergencies.

Access roads are very narrow; you cannot evacuate, two people cannot pass easily from this one. And the roads are zig-zagged, so when these roads are filled by water and then during the flood or inundations that you cannot step in we do not know where you are putting your leg.

This section details the difficulties faced during evacuations, focusing on narrow, zig-zagged roads that hinder movement. Such conditions can worsen during floods, complicating the evacuation process and significantly increasing the risk for residents trying to escape floodwaters.

Think of a crowded event where a fire alarm goes off. A narrow exit can create panic and confusion, making it harder for people to leave the building quickly. Similarly, tight access roads in a flooded area can prevent people from evacuating safely during emergencies.

In 2005 it was a Mithi river, and this is the road, and the flood came like this okay gradually and then it was around 8. So people could not evacuate during 2005 one reason that there was no designated place there was no early warning and the head of the household was not at house.

Here, the recounting of the catastrophic flood of 2005 highlights the lack of preparedness that made evacuation difficult. The absence of a designated refuge or early warning systems compounded the problem, especially when the decision-maker in the household was away, leaving others unsure of their action plans.

This situation is comparable to being caught off guard during a sudden storm without knowing where to go for safety. Just as a traveler needs to know the exit routes in an unfamiliar city, residents should have clear evacuation plans and safe places to go during disasters.

And it was sometimes too late when they decided to evacuate entire area, surrounding areas were inundated with water, and they have also the loss fear of losing property or looting kind of questions. And people do not know where to evacuate how to evacuate these reasons that they could not really evacuate.

This final chunk discusses mental and practical barriers that prevented successful evacuations during the flood. Residents often waited too long to evacuate, and once the water rose, concerns over property loss and looting fears made the situation more dire. Inadequate information on where and how to evacuate further complicated their response.

Imagine being at a concert when the power goes out. Many might hesitate to leave their seats out of fear of losing their belongings or not knowing the safest exit. Just like concert-goers need clear instructions during an emergency, flood victims require well-communicated evacuation plans to navigate their crisis effectively.

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