Why Indian cities flood after heavy rain and overheat in summer every year, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• Indian cities face recurrent urban disasters from extreme weather events like heatwaves and heavy rainfall due to dense construction and weak infrastructure.
• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was amended in 2025 to allow states to constitute Urban Disaster Management Authorities in major cities.
• In August 2026, heatwaves and lightning were included in the list of notified natural calamities, enabling states to use disaster response funds.
• A 2024 NITI Aayog report found that 65% of India’s 7,933 urban settlements lacked a Master Plan.

Urban India Risks.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• Urban disasters occur when natural hazards like heatwaves or cloudbursts strike areas with vulnerable populations and inadequate infrastructure.
• Concretization, loss of natural drains, and reduced green cover exacerbate flooding and contribute to urban heat island effects.
• Temperatures in Indian city centers can be 3-4°C higher than surrounding areas, according to the World Bank.
• The World Bank estimates that timely adaptation could prevent annual urban flood losses of about $3 billion by 2030.
• The amendment to the Disaster Management Act, 2005 leaves the formation of urban disaster authorities to state discretion without a deadline.
• Responsibility for disaster management in most cities remains fragmented across multiple agencies, hindering coordinated action.
• A shortage of qualified urban planners and technical experts contributes to poor integration of disaster planning into urban development.
• Effective disaster planning requires integrating flood and heat maps into construction regulations and urban investment decisions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Disaster Management Act, 2005: A comprehensive law providing for effective management of disasters and matters connected therewith.
• Urban Disaster Management Authority: A body constituted by state governments to prepare and implement urban disaster management plans.
• Notified Natural Calamities: A list of disasters for which states can utilize disaster response funds for relief and mitigation.
• Master Plan: A statutory document that guides the physical development and land use of a city or region.