Flood disaster and its management in Terai region with special reference to Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, India

District Udham Singh Nagar is a plains district in the Uttarakhand state, situated at the foothills of mountain ranges. Earthquake and flood are among the potential disasters in the district. Flood is a recurring natural disaster in Uttarakhand, affecting various parts of the state almost every year. The state, with a population of 10.1 million inhabitants, faces significant natural hazards caused by water, such as floods, flash floods, heavy precipitation, avalanches, landslides, and glacier lake outburst flows. The recent calamity on June 16-17, 2013, resulting from heavy downpour and subsequent devastating floods in various rivers, led to substantial loss of life and property. District Udham Singh Nagar is located in the low-lying Terai region, making it susceptible to several devastating floods that have caused loss of life, significant damage to infrastructure, and the loss of cropland livelihood. The purpose of this study is to discuss the nature of flood disasters in the district, considering the potential impact on areas along the banks of rivers such as Fika, Kosi, Jagbuda, etc., during the rainy season. In 2021, a severe flood in the Gaula River, attributed to a natural disaster, resulted in the complete destruction of several gates of the Kichha barrage built in the Gaula River. This destruction occurred due to water discharge exceeding 15,000 cusecs, surpassing the design capacity of the Kichha barrage. Since the kichha Barrage is under the control of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, the reconstruction work of the gate will be undertaken by the same department. Following heavy rainfall in the year 2022, waterlogging was observed at various locations in the district. In the Udham Singh Nagar district, 11 management teams have been established, each equipped with a 24-hour standby ambulance. Additionally, two control rooms have been set up in the district, along with flood posts in every tehsil. However, there remains a pressing need for permanent security measures at sensitive locations. This study aims to spotlight the flood-affected areas in Udham Singh Nagar district. The primary objective of the study is to scrutinize the flood disaster mitigation measures implemented by the district administration in Udham Singh Nagar.