Data integration for Flood risk analysis by using GIS/RS as tools

Muzaffarabad city is one the most severally flood affected area in northern Pakistan. It is situated at the confluence of River Neelum and Jhelum. High-class residential area and commercial activities are situated along riverbanks, which are severally vulnerable to flooding. Due to negligence of the authorities and further unplanned growth of city are disturbing the natural flow of water, especially Neelum River is flowing in the form of narrow channel, which easily overflow during flooding. Due to rugged topography and lack of further land for extension, the people are imposed to construct either double-storey buildings or multi-storeys buildings. For a number of reasons the most frequent choice should be protection from the flooding by means of physical control of the river, but there is also a 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 areas and a detail flood risk assessment mapping and zonation are required to minimise the harmful effects of flood hazard. Therefore, an attempt has been made to apply modern techniques like Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing for the assessment of flood hazard. The presence of risk assessment mapping will help the concerned authorities to formulate their development strategies according to the available risk to the area