State the reasons for the increasing instances of urban floods in India. Also, discuss the steps taken by the government to mitigate the urban flood risk in the country.

Urban floods is flooding - that happen in urban area usually caused by excessive rainfall in urban area due to obstructed drainage system & unregulated construction. • Recent instances of urban flooding been in Delhi, Mumbai, & Bangalore 2025 has shown lacking infrastructure capability of our cities. Reasons for urban flooding are as follows: I) Unregulated Meteorological factors: 1) Unseasonable meteorological events 2) Southwest monsoon: frequent showers 3) Northeast monsoon: frequent showers in middle of October, eg: Chennai 2015 4) Depression & Cyclones: heavy rainfall & storms, eg: Hyderabad 2020. 5) Western disturbances: extra-tropical moisture system, eg: North Indian cities 6) Thunderstorm & Cloudburst: hilly areas II) Anthropogenic Factors: 1) Climate change: extreme weather conditions 2) Improper drainage system: Lacking of proper drainage system, ailing in the drainages 3) Land use pattern: Urbanization - cemented pavement - no place for rainwater percolation.

Continuation: II) Hydrological Factors 1) Surface Rain off: 2) Ground water level prior to storm 3) Natural surface infiltration rate 4) Synchronisation of various supplies from various parts of waterlogged. STEPS Taken by Govt to Mitigate urban Flood: 1) NDMA guidelines for Urban Floods - released 2005 to tackle the issues of urban flooding. 2) Sponge Cities Mission: Nature based solution - to distribute water better & improve drainage & storage. Using permeable asphalt, new canals, suspension of wetlands to ease waterlogging issues. 3) AMRUT Mission: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation: city planning - green infrastructure - green roofs - rain gardens, rain water harvesting systems. 4) Rejuvenation & Restoration of lakes, wetlands -> help in preventing waterlogging.

Continuation: 5) Nature based solution: Blue green infrastructure to tackle drainage issues. Eg: Bhopal Green belt master plan, Delhi's Master Plan 2041, River urban agricultural plan. 6) Education & Awareness to guised public to tackle such situation. 7) Early Warning systems - to understand & plan preparedness for any sustained event -> Indian history of Indus Valley Civilisation had green history of well planned cities & hence acting as a role model for our cities about importance of proper drainage system - thus acting as a role model for our cities about importance of proper drainage system - thus acting as a role model for our cities about importance of proper drainage system. Working on these lines will help alleviate - the issues of raped inundation, water lodging, fluvial loss of life.

— Sayali Bhika Pagar · AIR 87