Cyclone & Flood Management — Set 14

Correct Answer: B. Mandakini and Alaknanda river basins

The Mandakini and Alaknanda river basins were most severely affected during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods. The Mandakini River, which flows through the Kedarnath valley, underwent catastrophic flooding that destroyed the Kedarnath town. The Alaknanda and its tributaries also experienced devastating flash floods and landslides across multiple districts of Uttarakhand.

Correct Answer: A. Barrages and embankments in Nepal and Bihar

The major structural measures implemented on the Kosi River are the Kosi Barrage and an extensive system of embankments on both banks in Nepal and Bihar, completed in the late 1950s. The Kosi High Dam project in Nepal has been proposed but not yet constructed. However, these embankments have faced repeated breaches, most catastrophically in 2008, showing the limitations of embankment-based flood management on sediment-heavy rivers.

Correct Answer: C. Assam

Assam has the highest percentage of its geographical area that is flood-prone, with estimates suggesting that over 40% of the state faces annual flood risk. The Brahmaputra river system, with its numerous tributaries and braided channels, regularly inundates vast areas of the Assam plains. Assam's unique geography, lying in a narrow valley between the Himalayas and the Deccan, makes it exceptionally vulnerable to floods.

Correct Answer: B. Flood control and water resources development in Northeast India

The Brahmaputra Board was established in 1981 under the Brahmaputra Board Act to plan, investigate, and construct schemes for flood control and river management in the Brahmaputra and Barak river valleys in Northeast India. The Board works with state governments of Assam and other northeastern states on flood control projects. Its mandate includes managing the complex hydrological and flood challenges posed by the Brahmaputra river system.

Correct Answer: C. ₹20,000+ crore

The Chennai floods of November–December 2015 caused economic damages estimated at over ₹20,000 crore, with some estimates placing the total loss significantly higher when including long-term business disruption and infrastructure damage. The floods killed over 500 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. The disaster highlighted the inadequacy of Chennai's stormwater drainage infrastructure and the need for better urban flood planning.

Correct Answer: B. One of the most powerful Arabian Sea cyclones on record

Cyclone Tauktae (2021) was one of the most powerful Arabian Sea cyclones ever recorded, reaching Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm intensity with wind speeds of about 185–195 km/h. The Arabian Sea, previously considered less cyclone-prone than the Bay of Bengal, has been witnessing increasingly intense storms, possibly linked to rising sea surface temperatures due to climate change. Tauktae's intensity marked a notable escalation in Arabian Sea cyclone threats.

Correct Answer: B. Ministry of Home Affairs

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry for disaster management in India, overseeing the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force). The Disaster Management Act 2005 placed the overall responsibility for disaster management under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Home Minister chairs the National Crisis Management Committee for major disaster events.

Correct Answer: B. Providing satellite-based flood mapping and damage assessment

The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), under ISRO, provides satellite-based flood inundation mapping and damage assessment during and after flood events. NRSC uses satellite imagery from IRS and other satellites to map the extent of flooding and track changes over time. This information supports relief operations by identifying which areas are inundated and helping target resources effectively.

Correct Answer: B. Rapid urbanisation on natural drainage channels and hillside deforestation

Guwahati faces urban flooding every monsoon primarily due to rapid urbanisation that has encroached upon natural drainage channels and the Bharalu river, combined with deforestation of surrounding hills that increases runoff intensity. The city's drainage infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth and urban expansion. Encroachment on wetlands and lakes that historically absorbed rainwater has further worsened urban flooding in the city.

Correct Answer: B. Integrated flood management in river basins shared with neighbouring countries

India's Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), a successor to the Flood Management Programme, aims at integrated flood management in river basins shared with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China, as well as in border areas. It funds state governments for anti-erosion works, drainage improvement, and flood control infrastructure in shared river basins. Transboundary river flood management is critical given that major flood-prone rivers like the Brahmaputra and Kosi originate outside India.