Evaluation of 2013 Flood Damages In Pakistan: A Case Study of Ahmedpur East, Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Current study evaluated the damages of 2013 flood in Tehsil Ahmedpur East (Bahawalpur). For this, Basti Agrani, Mouza Bait Bakhtiari was selected as a study area for field survey. Total 61 respondents have been selected as samples and data had gathered through structured questionnaire using random cluster sampling. Simultaneously, field observation was also done and snaps of the destroyed fields and houses captured through digital camera. Findings revealed that in study area majority of the inhabitants have lost almost all of their possessions to furious flood. In this regard, 45.9% respondents have been faced the loss of 100,000-300,000 PKR, 24.6% faced the loss of 300,000-500,000 PKR. Among these, 70.4% were lost their standing agricultural crops whereas 14.7% were confronted with the losses of their houses etc. About 67.2% farmers have been destroyed their agricultural land holdings varies from 1-4 acres. Cotton was the chief crop that massively destroyed and 80.9% farmers lost their standing crop of cotton etc. After flood, 47.5% respondents were stayed in open sky without any roof, 31.1% were used un-safe places of trees and high terrain shelves to save themselves. Due to drinking contaminated water, 85.3% respondents were suffered in diseases. Among these, 73.2% suffered in Malaria etc. Only 53.9% respondents acquired treatment from their own expenses, 59% respondents have been faced the financial problems even to meet their daily needs. It is noteworthy that Punjab government granted the aid of 498.7 millions PKR for the flood victims those lost their houses. Furthermore, to save the human lives and precious properties of people study suggests; a comprehensive flood prevention plan should be design, there should be a pre-flood warning system to inform and evacuate the vulnerable people of flood prone areas timely, a trained anti-disaster force should be set up to rescue flood victims quickly etc.