Floods in Lucknow

Lucknow is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Gomti River, which is a tributary of the Ganges River. Lucknow has a history of being affected by floods due to heavy rainfall, river overflow, and breaches in the embankments.

1923
In 1923, Lucknow experienced a disastrous flood with an estimated discharge of 75,000 cusecs, and many low-lying areas were badly affected. This was one of the earliest recorded floods in the city's history. It was caused by heavy rainfall in the monsoon season, which made the Gomti River overflow its banks and inundate many parts of the city. The flood affected the old city, the civil lines, and the cantonment areas. It damaged property, crops, and infrastructure and forced many people to take shelter in higher places. The flood also disrupted the communication and transportation systems, and posed a threat to public health and safety.

1960
The 1960 Lucknow flood was caused by the overflow of the Gomti River after heavy rainfall in the Himalayan region. After the 1923 flood, the Buttergani area was protected by the construction of a marginal embankment. However, in 1960, this area was badly flooded as water spilled through two breaches, allowing about 30,000 to 40,000 cusecs of water into the low-lying areas. The flood submerged almost half of the city under several feet of water. It was one of the worst floods in Lucknow's history. The flood affected various parts of the city, including the old city, the civil lines, the cantonment, and the main shopping center. It also caused damage to the electricity supply, the zoological gardens, and many historical monuments. Elephants, bicycle rickshaws, and boats were used as means of transport in the flooded areas. The government deployed army units and helicopters to rescue the marooned people and provide relief materials. The water level dropped very slowly, and no estimate was made of the total damage. The flood also coincided with a tidal wave that ravaged the mouth of the Ganges in Bangladesh, killing more than 3,000 people on October 16, 1960.

1971
The 1971 Lucknow flood was also caused by two breaches in the embankment of the Gomti River. The breaches were caused by the high water level of the river, which was six feet (about two meters) above the danger mark due to heavy rainfall in the monsoon season. The flood submerged many parts of the city under three or four feet (one to 1.2 meters) of water, affecting the main shopping area, some residential areas, and the zoological gardens. The flood also disrupted the electricity supply, the communication and transportation systems, and public health and safety. At least 13 deaths due to drowning were reported from Uttar Pradesh on September 7, taking the death toll in two months of rain and flooding in the state to 268. In Lucknow itself, a quarter of the city's area was underwater on September 8. The government deployed the army and civilian engineers to plug the breaches into the embankment and rescue the marooned people. More than 25,000 people were evacuated from the city in 24 hours and housed in 18 camps opened by the state government. Elephants, boats, and helicopters were used as means of transport and relief in the flooded areas. The flood also affected the animals in the Lucknow Zoo, some of which had to be placed on raised platforms or protected by sandbags and boulders. In 1971, there was the second-highest flood in Lucknow with a discharge of 107,000 cusecs.

2008
The 2008 Lucknow flood was a natural disaster that occurred in August 2008. It was caused by the overflow of the Gomti River after heavy rainfall in the monsoon season. The flood submerged several parts of the city, affecting more than 100,000 people, and killing at least 15. The flood also damaged property, crops, and infrastructure. The state government declared Lucknow one of the 11 districts affected by floods and deployed army units and helicopters to rescue and provide relief to the affected people. The rainfall increased the water level of the Gomti River, which rose above the danger mark of 8.5 metres (28 feet) at Lucknow. The river also received water from its tributaries, such as Sai, Kathana, and Kukrail. The flood situation was worsened by the inadequate drainage system of the city, which could not cope with the runoff from the urban areas. The encroachment of floodplains and wetlands by illegal constructions also reduced the natural capacity of the river to absorb excess water. The flood affected various parts of Lucknow, especially the low-lying areas along the banks of the Gomti River. The worst-hit areas were Daliganj, Nishatganj, Aminabad, Chowk, Thakurganj, Alambagh, Rajajipuram, and Indira Nagar. The flood water entered many houses, shops, offices, schools, hospitals, and religious places, forcing people to evacuate or take shelter on rooftops or higher grounds. The flood also disrupted the power supply, water supply, communication, and transportation systems in the city. Many roads and bridges were damaged or submerged by the flood water, making them impassable for vehicles and pedestrians. The flood also posed a threat to public health and safety due to water-borne diseases and electrocution. Mariyam experienced the devastating flood of 2008 in her native city of Lucknow. She described the impact of the disaster on neighbours, who had to cope with the loss of their homes and belongings, the disruption of essential services, and the risk of diseases and injuries.

2021
This flood was a calamity that affected Lucknow and its surrounding districts. The flood was caused by continuous rainfall for several days, which increased the water level of the Gomti River and its tributaries. Many areas of the city were flooded, including roads, bridges, railway tracks, and residential colonies. The flood also affected the power supply, the water supply, and the health services. The authorities deployed boats, helicopters, and drones to evacuate people and provide relief materials.