2022 floods

The disastrous flooding of Sindh in 2022 was not an isolated event but part of a historical trend of flood challenges in the Indus valley. The floods resulted from multiple systemic pressures:

1. High water levels in the Indus River, caused by upstream rainfall and snowmelt, leading to overflows.

2. Flash floods from the Kirthar and Suleyman mountains, driven by intense rainfall on sparsely vegetated land.

3. Local precipitation in the Indus floodplains, where embankments hinder effective drainage.

The region's flat terrain, restricted natural drainage, and infrastructural changes exacerbate flooding. Decades of embankment construction and sediment deposition in the Indus have elevated its riverbed, further limiting drainage. The irrigation system’s operation, with barrages and reservoirs, disrupts sediment transport, leading to silting and reduced river capacity, especially downstream of the Kotri Barrage.

The 2022 floods were triggered by a combination of moderate Indus water levels, heavy precipitation in the mountains, and insufficient drainage from Manchar Lake. This caused overflows and compounded pressure on interconnected systems like the Hamal Lake and FP Bund. Local rainfall, low gradients, and "bathtub effects" worsened the inundation.

Addressing these challenges requires systemic improvements. Strategies include enhancing drainage downstream to upstream and expanding buffer and storage spaces from upstream to downstream, as outlined in detailed system diagrams.