2.2. Annual waterlogging incidents

Another one is that before the flood, it was a house and it was like that, then the local government started to elevate the road okay simply elevated the road year after year. But as a result what happened they can see that it makes the houses more vulnerable; water can easily come to house and it is really risky for them.

In this segment, it is explained that the local government elevated the roads over time to prevent flooding or enhance accessibility. However, this elevation inadvertently increased the vulnerability of nearby houses. When the roads are raised, it shifts the water flow and can create a situation where water accumulates and enters the houses, turning them into high-risk areas during floods.

Imagine if you live in a valley and the road going through the valley is lifted higher. When it rains heavily, the water from the elevated road doesn't drain away but instead flows into your home, making it wet and unsafe. This scenario illustrates how raising infrastructure can sometimes create new problems.

There is also an encroachment by on Mithi river some people are encroaching, this is a Mithi river you can see that new constructions arouses. So municipal authority actually demolished these places recently, but again new constructions are coming.

This portion addresses the unauthorized constructions along the Mithi River. Encroachment means that people are building houses or structures close to or on the riverbanks where it is typically restricted due to the risk of flooding. Although authorities have intervened and demolished these illegal constructions, the problem persists as new buildings continue to emerge, aggravating waterlogging incidents.

Think of a sandbox where kids are playing. If someone builds a sandcastle too close to the edge of the sandbox, the waves from the toy water added for play can wash it away. Similarly, building near the river raises the risk when floods occur.

What we found that in 1980 it was a mangrove area totally on Mithi river... So from it was not a very old settlement as such.

The content reflects on the historical development of the area around the Mithi River. Initially, the region was a mangrove ecosystem, which plays a crucial role in water drainage and flood management. However, beginning in the 1980s, human settlements began to emerge, largely consisting of temporary housing for construction workers. This gradual transformation from natural mangrove to dense human habitation has contributed to the current waterlogging issues.

Imagine a natural sponge that soaks up water efficiently. If you start adding heavy objects—like children jumping on it—you find the sponge doesn’t absorb water as well. Similarly, replacing natural areas with buildings raises the risk of flooding as the land can no longer absorb rainwater.

The flood level in 2005 and these areas... around six to ten feet of water, six to ten feet that is more than a human height.

This section discusses the severity of flooding in 2005, indicating that certain parts of the affected area experienced floodwaters ranging from six to ten feet deep—much taller than an average adult. This extreme level of flooding highlights the urgency of addressing waterlogging and managing infrastructure in vulnerable areas.

Picture a tall adult standing in a swimming pool. If the water is six feet deep, the adult’s head might barely be above it. Now, imagine entire neighborhoods being submerged to that depth; it emphasizes not just the danger but the scale of the flooding experienced.

In waterlogging, they were facing annual waterlogging in these series, and you can see here that most of the building most of the houses they face this one to two feet waterlogging annually...

This part discusses the recurring issue of waterlogging that the community faces every year, where houses typically see one to two feet of standing water for two to three hours. This annual challenge indicates a persistent problem of inadequate drainage or flood management that needs to be addressed to protect houses and lives.

Think about a sponge that is in a basin that doesn’t drain well. If water is poured in every year during the rainy season, eventually, it fills up, and water remains stagnant for days. Houses experiencing annual waterlogging are like that sponge—gradually overwhelmed by water.

It was the damage to building and damage to household, durable asset due to 2005 flood... they lost everything.

In this segment, the consequences of the 2005 floods are portrayed. Households closest to the Mithi River suffered extreme losses, with complete destruction of their possessions, including infrastructure and personal items. This emphasizes the devastating impact of flooding on vulnerable communities and highlights the need for better management practices.

Imagine a family having a picnic by a riverbank. A sudden flood comes up and washes away everything from their picnic blanket to their food. This emotional picture illustrates what families can feel when they lose their homes and belongings to water.

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