Human security and human growth are interlinked and directly proportional: in one of the two, success or failure raises the likelihood of success or failure in the other. Natural disasters can lead to the collapse of societies down the human development ladder, but these misfortunes are not totally unavoidable. While every community is exposed to danger, some will experience more harm and recover less quickly than others, especially those at lower levels of human development.
Everyone is affected when disasters occur. In 2016, because of natural disasters, more than 24 million people were forced to leave their homes. Yet women and kids are 14 times more likely to die in a disaster than men are. People with disabilities, the elderly and native peoples are often especially at risk of death, injury, sickness, hunger, relocation and lack of access to basic services related to the disaster. Such vulnerable groups need policy-makers for the devoted attention.
While there will always be hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and other such natural disasters, precautionary measures such as earthquake-resistant buildings, efficient evacuation plans and careful urban planning will minimize the damage. This is the duty of governments everywhere.
September 2014 Flood in Kashmir
The Kashmir area experienced devastating floods triggered by torrential rainfall in September 2014 across several of its districts. These floods have affected the Jammu and Kashmir. Much of the city areas were submerged under water in Srinagar. The Jhelum River spilled over the submerged neighbourhoods of Sonwar, Shivpora, Batwara, Soitang, Lasjan, Padshai bagh, Natipora, Pandrathan, Lal Chowk, Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar, Gogji Bagh, and Wazir Bagh. The first and second floors of the tourist-packed houses and hotels in Rajbagh were submerged.
Srinagar city’s position in the Jhelum basin flood plains makes it the most prone to flood hazards. In addition, the area has a fragile ecosystem and is highly vulnerable to global climate variations. The brisk urbanization and filling of wetlands in the vicinity of the city have drastically changed the natural environment, contributing to the situation of urban floods. The major cause of flooding in this area, shown by the study of historical meteorological data, is excessive precipitation. In the mountain basin, flash floods frequently occur, giving inadequate time to alert, leading to heavy damage and loss of life.
This was the worst flood in the area in the last 50 years, proving the failure of the drainage system to manage the Jhelum River’s heavy discharge. Beyond its course, the heavy rain causes the Jhelum River to overspill and stimulate the pressure in the flood plain and adjacent low-lying zone. In the northern and central parts of the Kashmir valley, the long term (approx. 2 weeks) inundation made the conditions worse. Due to the 2014 flood in Srinagar, built-up and agricultural land along the Jhelum and lake ecosystem was affected. Dal Lake was overloaded in the central part of Srinagar city because of high precipitation and excess water overflow which flooded the built-up surrounding area. The calamity that descended on the Jammu and Kashmir because of these floods and the immense harm they have done cannot be doubted about.
The condition was not improved by the dredging of rivers carried out in the last decade. As a matter of fact, in some cases, it has made it worse. The overwhelming force washed away the bridges and roads that surrounded these turbulent streams, because the floodwaters brought a heavy sediment load.
The Jammu and Kashmir has a particular aim of producing power from run-of-the-river projects but has no large dams. Under the Indus Water Treaty, the building of large dams is not allowed. Since Kashmir is yet to completely develop its capacity for run-of-the-river power generation, this has not been seen as the only constraint. But during precipitation, the Jammu and Kashmir is vulnerable, the occurrence of which is likely to increase if global climate change trends in the Himalayan region are repeated and severe weather conditions are exacerbated.
If strategically positioned, dams might hold large amounts of water from tributaries of the Jhelum. Within a few kilometres of each other in South Kashmir, the confluence of the Veshav, Lidder and Rambiyaar into the Jhelum could prove disastrous for Anantnag city and adjacent neighbourhoods. This is an ideal example of where the construction of a dam may be used for good.
Soil erosion due to deforestation is one of the causes that cannot be undermined. In flood-disaster protection, afforestation will definitely play a significant role.
Looking Forward
Like the way the international community considers and reacts to problems such as armed conflicts and violations of human rights, the concept of human security has rapidly played an important role. However, as we have observed from the immense suffering and destruction caused by natural disasters, humans are not the only danger to human survival.
People are increasingly living in areas more vulnerable to natural hazards because of population growth, poverty, and land scarcity. Similarly, the economic implications of natural disasters, particularly for developing countries, are long-lasting and wide-ranging. Although half a decade later, the Indian Ocean tsunami-ravaged communities are still struggling to resume usual and productive lives.
Although we will not be able to avoid all natural disasters, it is possible and important to strengthen our planning in answer to the human impacts of such disasters. By promoting an emphasis on human vulnerabilities, the human security approach has plenty to give, thus reducing the severe implications of natural disasters for human safety and well-being.
