| Abstract | Full Paper | PDF | Printer Friendly Format |

Page 1 of 4
| Next |

Introduction
The study area is situated in the District Muzaffarabad, which is the capital of Azad Kashmir. The study area is situated at the confluence of river Jhelum and Neelum. It is at situated at a distance of 138 km from Islamabad (Capital of Pakistan). River Neelum is the main contributor of flooding in this area. Other important river of the study area is river Jhelum. Both these rivers meet at Domel in Muzaffarabad (Fig.1). Flood of 1992 has been found to be more severe flood in the in the history of Muzaffarabad, which cause severe damage to economy and number of lives were lost (Table.1).

For a number of reasons the most frequent choice should be the protection from the flood by means of physical control of the river but there is also need for a more broader and comprehensive program for managing flood hazard in the study area. Flood protection has been helpful and must be continued side by side other preventive tools like effective planning for the growth of the city, creation of a computerized GIS database for the flood prone area and a detailed flood risk mapping and zonation are required to minimize the harmful affects of flood hazard. Keeping in view the importance of the problem, an intensive study of the problem has been carried out. For this purpose Geographical Information System (GIS) were applied as a tool as a result, detailed mapping were drawn for the flood hazard assessment.


Fig.1: Location of the Study Area
Objectives of the Study
Following are the main objectives of the study.

• To develop land use map for Muzaffarabad City by applying GIS as a tool.
• To show critical facilities which are vulnerable to flooding.
• To create a GIS database for flood prone area in Muzaffarabad city.
• To delineate classified hazard map.

Table. 1: Damages Caused by the flood of 9th September 1992 in District Muzaffarabad

Drainage Pattern
The Jhelum and Neelum are two rivers, which flow through the district. The Jhelum river, which has its source in the Varing spring in the Anantnag (Islamabad) district of occupied Kashmir. Enters near Chakoti at the confluence of Urusa nala and flows in a southeast to north west directions up to Muzaffarabad where Neelum river joins it. Then after it runs toward south along the border of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan. The Neelum River, which was formerly known as Kishan Ganga has also its source in the occupied Kashmir and enter the district in Athmuqam tehsil and flows through Neelum valley.

Page 1 of 4
| Next |