Beyond the banks and deluge: understanding riverscape, flood vulnerability, and responses in kashmir

Abstract

Flooding in Kashmir results from a complex interplay of physical, sociopolitical, and economic factors, which presents a severe environmental challenge. The intricate interplay between the Jhelum’s riverscape, social interactions, and economic factors is profoundly shaped by the persistent problem of flooding and its associated vulnerabilities. In this study, we examine the vulnerability of Kashmir to flooding and provide a comprehensive assessment of the recent floods. The purpose of this vulnerability assessment is to delve into these intricacies and offer deeper understanding of flood vulnerability in Kashmir. We explore the concept of riverscape in the context of the Jhelum River to encompass a holistic view of the river, understanding its physical features and socio-economic aspects, and examining the spatial and temporal dynamics of river ecosystems. This study analyses the spatial distribution of the inundated population, rainfall and hydrological analysis, flood gauge analysis of the Jhelum River, hydrological trends, and annual peak discharge at key discharge stations from 2003 to 2023. We analyse the policy landscape, social capital, and responses to recent flooding and provide a historical analysis of these policies. Using a mixed methods approach of qualitative as well as remote sensing methods to analyse recent flooding in Kashmir, we assessed the impact of flooding on population and LULC. We analyse how marginalised communities, lacking essential services and resources, disproportionately bear the brunt of these floods.