1. What it is and how caused. 2. Its effects. 3. Measures of relief. 4. Preventive measures.
1. Rain-water fails on big mountains as well as upon plains. As the river bed is 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, a 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.
2. At times flood comes all on a sudden. People sleep at night in their houses peacefully. They wake in the morning to see their houses surrounded with water. This causes untold sufferings and immense miseries to the people. Their belongings are washed away. Houses collapse and people are rended homeless. Many men, women, children and cattle are rendered homeless. Many men, women, children and cattle are swept away by the current of the river. Floods destroy crops standing in the fields and cause famine. They also cause epidemics. 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 of the river during the floods. Often entire families are washed away and they drift on the thatches and frail barges, aimlessly. The flood also damages railway lines and makes the running of trains impossible.
3. In times of flood the Government adopts various measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people. It arranges for both long-term and short-term relief. The short-term relief means immediate relief. This includes distribution of food, cloth, medicine etc. The long-term relief means free distribution of seedings, remission of rent grant of loan for reconstructing houses and for reclaiming land, etc. Even private relief societies are organized by the people. The sights of nature. There are beautiful flowers of various colours in gardens. If we walk through gardens, we are filled with joy. The lovely flowers fluttering in the breeze catch our fancy. We look at their dazzing colours and wonder at the imagination of their creator. The beautiful flowers make us forget our cares and anxieties. Gardens enable us to read the book of Nature. It is very interesting to watch the growth of plants and flowers. Plants grow silently in the gardens. Flowers bloom at the proper time. Plant life is as intresting as our own life. If we have eyes to see, we can watch the miracles of Nature in gardens.
6. Gardens provide healthy surroundings. We can improve our health by walking in gardens. We get many kinds of fruits and vegetables from gardens. Gardens give us great pleasure. The smiling flowers make us forget our anxieties and sorrows. When we walk in a garden, we feel that we are in paradise. We enjoy solitude in gardens. We hear the music of bees in the gardens. The multi-coloured
butterflies flying from one flower, our dullness is off. We enjoy the lovely sights and sounds of nature. 7. Gardens are very useful. They present beautiful sights of nature. There are beautiful flowers of various colours in gardens. If we walk through gardens, we are filled with joy. The lovely flowers fluttering in the breeze catch our fancy. We look at their dazzing colours and wonder at the imagination of their creator. The beautiful flowers make us forget our cares and anxieties. Gardens enable us watch the growth of plants and flowers. Plants grow silently in the gardens. Flowers bloom at the proper time. Plant life is as interesting as our own life. If we have eyes to see, we can watch the miracles of Nature in gardens.
