Introduction:

India will soon witness the urban population to attain 40.76% in the year 2030. Therefore, there is a huge relevance of the urgency of need for urbanization to heighten economic growth. It has been researched that the major cause of urban flooding includes inappropriate urban planning and climate change which was recently witnessed in Hyderabad (2020), Chennai (2015), and Bengaluru.

Causes:

1. Rapid urbanization: Unplanned urban growth and bad drainage infrastructure contribute to the increase in surface runoff causes flooding in urban regions. example- Mumbai.
2. Climate Change: Changes in rainfall patterns and climatic changes from extreme events boost the chances of urban flooding. eg- Maharashtra
3. Deforestation: Natural vegetation cover gets destroyed, and impervious surfaces increase, leading to lack of infiltration. This runoff increases with speed and overwhelms the drainage system. Conducting an assessment of the country’s annual runoff, it has been estimated that it has a spectacular increase by approximately 1.3 billion cubic meters of runoff with decreased infiltration and increased surface runoff as stated by the ICED 2022.
4. Poor Drainage Networks: Absence of maintenance, blockage, and improper design of the drainage structures slow down the water flow rates resulting in enhanced flood dangers.
5. Intrusion into Water Bodies: Construction on water bodies diminishes their storages capacity. During heavy rainfalls, the displaced water gains entry to the cities.

Preparation Mechanisms:
1. Urban Plan and Zoning: Based on relevant strategies of city planning, such as putting an emphasis on land-use zoning regulation, flood-proof construction measures can be implemented so as to decrease flood risks. Like
2. Enhanced Drains Infrastructure: Storm water, retention ponds and green infrastructure enhance the drainage including implementation of modern drainage networks as well as systems.
3. Early Warning Systems: The implementation and putting into practice of means and methods for issuing timely warnings that provide information on current rates of rainfall and flood rates facilitates taking of active responses.
4. Flood Mapping and Risk Assessment: Carrying out the flood mapping and risk assessment means that areas that are most at risk are easily identified and mitigation can be done in a formulated manner.
5. Public Education and Community Mobilization: Flood risks that are availed to the public increases the ability of communities to be defended within the societies.
6. Emergency Response Planning: Consequently floods are handled through efficient operational systems, qualified people and stock on essentials that facilitate swifter response to disasters.