29.+Physical+and+Human+Impacts+of+Flooding

__Physical and Human Impacts of Flooding__ · Annual Flooding in Bangladesh occurs when monsoonal rains overflow the Brahmaputra and Ganges’ banks between July and mid-August. · This can be good for Bangladesh’s 140 million inhabitants living on the floodplains. The floods are essential for their survival as the floods bring water for their crops of rice and jute as well as to fertilise their fields. · Flooding of 20% of the country is considered beneficial for crops and ecological balance. · See **figure 17.28** and **Figure 17.30** on **pg. 288** of the textbook. · The floods also result in devastation. It can cause a large loss of life, ruin crops and seriously damage property. · In 1998, 68% of the country was flooded. As well as destroying crops and basic infrastructural features like roads and bridges, it caused 1000 deaths, destroyed 7 million homes and left more than 25 million people homeless. · Most parts of the country were without electricity for several weeks and there were no safe drinking water. People were suffering from dysentery, diarrhoea and cholera.