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1992 India–Pakistan floods

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1992 India–Pakistan floods
Date7 September 1992 (1992-09-07) – unknown[1]
LocationAzad Kashmir, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, North-West Frontier Province
CauseHeavy rain
Landslide
Severe weather
Deaths2,496 total
2,000 – Azad Kashmir[2]
296 – Punjab(Pakistan)[3]
200 – Jammu and Kashmir[4]
Property damage$1 billion (estimated)
9.3 million affected
350,000 families went homeless
12,672 villages swept away
160,000 cattle drowned
80% bridges and roads destroyed
3.3 million evacuated

The 1992 India–Pakistan floods was a deadly flood caused by a five days long heavy monsoon rains and severe weather that occurred on 7 September 1992[5][6] across the north-Pakistan of Azad Kashmir, North-West Frontier Province and Indian administered state of Jammu and Kashmir. Severe floods left at least 2,496 fatalities, including 2,000 deaths in Pakistan administered state, 296 in Punjab province, and 200 in northern India with several others missing. The floods swept away more than 12,672 villages and several people were buried alive due to landslides near mountains. Punjab, that shares its borders with Azad Kashmir, suffered a heavy agriculture loss in its economic history.[7]

Map of Kashmir approx location of affected regions (Azad Kashmir shown in green while orange-brown represents Jammu and Kashmir)

The floods evacuated 3.3 million people from the affected areas. Initial reports cited between 900 and 1,000 dead with 1,000 missing.

Background

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The floods originated from the three major rivers such as Indus river, the longest river of the country, which flows through Pakistan, China and India, Chenab river, the major river of India and Pakistan, and the Jhelum river, a river in northern India and eastern Pakistan. The heavy rainfall in northern mountains made three rivers overflow.[8][9] The Jhelum river swept away more than 400 people in Punjab province, including refugees along with shelters built of mud on the banks of the river.[10] Pakistan suffered a heavy loss of 2,000 fatalities as well as millions of worth properties, while hundreds of people died in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir.[11][12]

Emergency response

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After floods struck Pakistan, mostly Azad Kashmir, the Government of Pakistan declared a nationwide emergency. The United Nations mobilized disaster management team to make necessary arrangements for dispatching disaster relief and to provide medical assistance to the flood victims of Pakistan. Pakistan also established the Prime Minister Relief Fund for 1992, a relief account designed to receive international funds as well as provincial-level relief contributions to combat the disaster. Government mobilized Pakistan army as well as local administration in an effort to recover missing people and to provide emergency services to the victims.[13] The World Bank, a financial organization for government agencies, described the efforts of Pakistan "satisfactory" towards its swift recover of damage, although hundreds of people were confirmed dead.[14]

Aftermath

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Severe floods left 2,500 people dead, including 296 from Punjab. More than 9.3 million people were affected, and 350,000 families rendered homeless, including refuge huts. A report by the Pakistani government stated that 12,672 villages in north Pakistan were washed away, 160,000 cattle drowned away, and 80% of bridges and roads were completely destroyed. It was declared a deadliest flood in the history of Pakistan, destroying an estimated $1 billion of property of that time.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Amjad Bashir Siddiqi (17 June 2019). "Climate change catching Pakistan unprepared". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Jammu and Kashmir disaster was waiting to happen". India Today.
  3. ^ a b Assistance, United States Agency for International Development Office of U. S. Foreign Disaster. "OFDA Annual Report". The Office – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Ananth, Venkat (September 9, 2014). "Jammu and Kashmir has had a long history of flooding". Livemint.
  5. ^ "Simulations of 1992 flood in river jhelum using high Pakistan Meteorological" (PDF). pmd.gov.pk.
  6. ^ Black, Carolyn (March 25, 2003). Pakistan - The Land. Crabtree Publishing Company. ISBN 9780778793465 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Hazarika, Sanjoy (September 19, 1992). "2,500 Dead in Heavy Flooding Across North Pakistan and India". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ "Over 900 in Pakistan Dead in Severe Floods". The New York Times. September 18, 1992 – via NYTimes.com.
  9. ^ "Floods in Northern Pakistan Kill 600". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1992.
  10. ^ "Officials up death toll to 1,700 in Indo-Pakistan flooding". UPI.
  11. ^ Masoodi, Ashwaq (November 16, 2014). "'So Little Time Between Hope and Death'". The Atlantic.
  12. ^ "Pakistan counts cost as force of the flood eases". The Independent. September 19, 1992. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01.
  13. ^ "Pakistan Floods Sep 1992 UN DHA Situation Reports 1 - 8 - Pakistan". ReliefWeb. 15 September 1992.
  14. ^ Bank, The World (June 1, 1998). "Pakistan - 1992 Flood Damage Restoration Project". p. 1 – via documents.worldbank.org.