Needs of resilient structure: a case study of flood disaster in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Abstract

Climate change is contributing to changing of atmosphere which lead to lead to climate events including disaster such as river flood, landslide and glacial lakes outburst in Bhutan. The threat of river flood poses serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of the Bhutanese people. The continues downpour is leading to alarming volumes of water in downstream which also increase the forces and pressure because of high speed with mud, debris and stone as well. Increased in water level can’t resist by the river training structure costing millions of dollars each year. In response to the disaster, local authorities and the government of Bhutan initiated immediate rescue and relief operations. Evacuation efforts were carried out to ensure the safety of residents, and temporary shelters were established to provide them with essential supplies and support. Emergency services, including medical teams and disaster response units, were mobilized to provide medical care and assist in the recovery efforts. The concern is that when the current bearing capacity of the structures not strong enough to resist the forces so water penetrate by breaking the wall and used to wash away the town during summer. My study area is in Toorsa river of Phuentsholing under Chhukha Dzongkhag basically the basin of the river. This phenomenon results in severe adverse impacts on downstream communities. A large number of people are vulnerable to river flood from Toorsa river. The risk of damage to their shops, washing away critical infrastructures, killing of cattle and even losing lives has increase in recent years. Hydropower, which accounts for a significant portion of the country’s revenue involves huge investments in infrastructure and requires sustainable water resources. The study is focused in assessing the Livelihood capital and Vulnerability of people living along the Toorsa river in phuentsholing town. Field data were collected from phuentsholing city cooperation, Thomdee and induvial interview as part of the case study. The information was collected through participatory tools and further followed by DIFDs livelihood analysis guidelines and valuable studies from Japan and Bangladesh on flood resistive structure to manage flood risks. To assess the information, literature was reviewed from different journals, books, government policies, meteorological and hydrological data and other unpublished thesis work and articles. The immediate installation of warning system and resilient structure for Amochhu settlement was commanded by His Majesty to High Level COVID-19 Task Force to warn community of flood, who will be settled in the shelters under construction on the Amochhu river banks. The High Level COVID-19 Task Force directed NCHM to install the Flood Early Warning System and resilient structure as soon as possible but still not come up with good idea. NCHM management started working instantly with preparation and planning to install the system with the available spares in stock and market. The flood disaster in Phuentsholing was triggered by heavy and prolonged rainfall, which caused the rivers in the area to swell rapidly beyond their capacity. The excessive water flow overwhelmed the riverbanks and infrastructure, leading to widespread flooding in the city. The floodwaters inundated residential areas, commercial establishments, and critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and public utilities. The consequences of the river flood disaster were devastating. Numerous homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, resulting in the displacement of a significant number of residents. The floodwaters also disrupted transportation networks, making it challenging for emergency services to reach affected areas and provide assistance to those in need. Additionally, the flooding contaminated water sources and increased the risk of waterborne diseases, posing further health hazards to the affected population. The river flood disaster in Phuentsholing highlighted the vulnerability of the region to natural hazards and the importance of disaster preparedness and resilience. Efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate the affected areas, improve infrastructure resilience, and implement early warning systems for flood detection and response were initiated to mitigate the risk of future disasters. Overall, the river flood disaster in Phuentsholing had significant socio-economic and environmental impacts, underscoring the need for comprehensive measures to mitigate and manage flood risks in the region.