The Floods
Rain-water falls on big mountains as well as upon plains. As the river bed in lower in level, all the rain-water flows to low lands and rivers. When the rainfall is heavy, rivers, streams and other channels cannot contain all the rain water in their beds. Then the water overflows their banks. This is called a flood. Sometimes the flood is caused by the melting of snows on the mountains which increases the volume of water in the rivers. Breaches in the embankment of a river also cause floods.
At times flood comes all on a sudden, people sleep at night in their peacefully. They wake in the morning to see their houses sorrounded with water. This causes untold sufferings and immense miseries to the people. Many people lose their resources and tools and thus lose their occupation. It is a very pitiable sight to see cattle and men being washed away by the current are washed away during the floods. Often entire families are washed away and they drift on the thatches and frail barges, aimlessly.
In times of flood the Government adopts various measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people. It arranges for both. Even private relief societies are organized by the people. They also render much help to the flood-stricken people. It is possible to check the frequent visits of floods. We can do so by digging eanal by raising the level of river-banks and by putting strong dams across the rivers. The Government often carries out these projects when funds permit.
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