Why in the News?
Researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Gandhinagar have developed a District Flood Severity Index (DFSI) to aid flood planning using past data and human impact indicators.
About the District Flood Severity Index (DFSI):
- Objective: To provide a comprehensive, data-based assessment of flood severity across Indian districts.
- Focus: District-level analysis, as districts are the core units for planning and implementation of disaster management in India.
- Based on long-term data (since 1967): Collected annually by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on major flood events.
- Significance: Responds to the lack of an official national index that incorporates human impact, not just flood magnitude.
Key Parameters Used in DFSI:
The index incorporates multiple indicators to measure both the scale and impact of flooding:
- Mean duration (in days) of flood events per district.
- Percentage of district area historically affected by floods.
- Total deaths and injuries due to floods.
- Population of the district — used to assess per capita impact.
- 40-year curated dataset developed at IIT Delhi used for historical flood mapping.
Key Insights from the Index:
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| [UPSC 2014] What are the benefits of implementing the ‘Integrated Watershed Development Programme’?”
1. Prevention of soil runoff 2. Linking the country’s perennial rivers with seasonal rivers 3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table 4. Regeneration of natural vegetation Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only* (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only |
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