flood

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land, typically caused by excessive rainfall, overflowing rivers, storm surges, or the failure of dams or levees. Floods can result in widespread damage to property, infrastructure, and crops, as well as loss of life. They are categorized by their duration and location, such as flash floods or coastal floods. Flooding also has long-term impacts, including displacement of communities and potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Effective flood management and early warning systems are critical to mitigating their effects.

A flood in the Indian context is often triggered by the monsoon season, when heavy rains cause rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and others to overflow. Floods are common in low-lying areas such as Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal. India also experiences flash floods in mountainous regions like Uttarakhand. In recent years, urban flooding has become a major issue in cities like Mumbai and Chennai due to poor drainage systems. The Indian government and disaster relief agencies work to provide early warnings and relief measures to mitigate the damage caused by floods.

In September 2022, BOOM investigated a viral video that was falsely shared as showing recent floods in Karachi, Pakistan.

BOOM found that the video was actually from March 2011, depicting the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Ishinomaki, Japan, and debunked the claim linking it to the floods in Karachi.