Srinagar, April 30 -- The calamity extended its reach beyond the borders of Srinagar, causing damages totaling over USD 18 billion in both India and Pakistan combined. This staggering figure solidified its status as the most financially debilitating disaster of the year 2014. However, delving deeper into the anatomy of the post-flood scenario reveals a narrative that transcends mere natural calamity. It speaks volumes about the systemic issues that exacerbated the disaster, chief among them being unplanned urbanization, negligence in maintaining vital waterways like the Jhelum River and flood canals, frequent riverbank inundations and breaches, and the lack of regulated floodplain management practices.

The April 2024 flooding in many par...