To Evaluate Flood Risk and Vulnerability Assessment in District Nowshera, KPK

Abstract

Climate change has put the planet earth on hydro metrological risks. A large variation can be observed in the global climate. Unprecedented frequent flooding, hurricanes, droughts and heavy snowfalls can be witnessed in the past few decades. Now no country can declare itself safe from the negative impacts of changing climate. Pakistan is no more safe from these impacts. In 2010 unprecedented monsoon rainfall put the entire country under flood water. Starting from the northern areas, the flood had washed away houses, crops, animals and roads passing through Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Punjab to the tail end in Sindh province. In Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Nowshera was one of the most affected districts. It has destroyed building stock, livestock and crops in most parts of the district. To minimize these losses in future, this research has been carried out to assess the current condition of building stock in Nowshera Cantt and Nowshera City area. The research explores in detail the building stock vulnerability and associated risk. This research has found that the flood reoccurrence time period is 7 years for zone 1and 7. While other zones 2,3,4,5,6,8,9 have 81 years of reoccurrence time period. Based on the physical vulnerability, this research found that there are five types of buildings in the study area. Vulnerability of Type 1 to 5 are varying from strong to weak according to its structures having RRC roof, strong walls, plain concrete / tiles floor. Flood risk map has been produced on the basis of flood frequency and typology of high frequency structures in that particular area. The research explicitly shows different areas in risk map according to the level of risk i.e from low to high risk zones. Local as well as federal government can use this research for the risk mitigation measures and timely and efficient response in case of flood by accommodating it in its preparedness plan.