Review Paper:
Urban Flooding
in Tier-2 Indian Cities: A Qualitative Exploration of Causes, Impacts and Mitigation
Strategies
Samantaray Sadashiv and Sar Ashok
Disaster Advances; Vol. 18(10); 90-96;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/1810da090096; (2025)
Abstract
Urban flooding has emerged as a recurring challenge in Indian cities, with even
minimal rainfall events triggering waterlogging and severe disruptions. This study
investigates the phenomenon of frequent urban flooding in five tier-2 Indian cities:
Puri, Raipur, Ranchi, Vizag and Bhopal through a qualitative lens. Using focus group
discussions (FGDs) with a cross-section of stakeholders including residents, municipal
officials, urban planners and environmental activists, the study aims to generate
in-depth insights into the patterns of flooding, its multifaceted impacts, perceived
causes and proposed mitigation strategies. The data, collected through semi-structured
FGDs and analysed thematically, reveals that unplanned urban expansion, poor maintenance
of drainage infrastructure, encroachment on natural waterways and inadequate storm-water
management are recurrent factors contributing to urban flooding. Participants reported
substantial health risks, property damage, traffic paralysis and income loss, especially
among marginalized communities.
This research adds to the limited qualitative evidence based on urban flooding in
non-metro Indian contexts. By foregrounding lived experiences and stakeholder perspectives,
the study offers valuable insights for localized disaster risk reduction strategies
and urban policy reforms. It underscores the urgency of integrated urban planning,
community-based resilience-building and proactive governance to mitigate the growing
threat of urban flooding in emerging Indian cities.
