Extreme Flood Events in India and Attribution to Climate Change: An Analysis of News Media Coverage from 2013–2019 during Bihar Floods
Publication: Natural Hazards Review
Volume 23, Issue 1
Abstract
This study analyzes the news media coverage of floods in a major flood-prone state of India, Bihar. Although news media helps shape public perception and political actions, little analysis of this means of communication has been conducted in India. Major topics and issues discussed during the coverage of Bihar floods in years 2013, 2017, and 2019 were provision of food, shelter, and health facilities, failure of the transportation system, waterlogging in urban areas, and failure or management of embankments. There was no skepticism on whether climate change was real. Political parties took contradictory positions: the ruling party attributed floods to a changing climate but other parties, and news media, emphasized the lack of disaster mitigation actions and were uninterested in climate change. This study suggests that it is more important to prepare for disaster mitigation actions around the major issues discussed and communicate them to the public. Media should become a major stakeholder by questioning the authorities about disaster preparations prior to the monsoon season and communicating mitigation actions to the public once disaster has struck, and help both public and government to better manage and mitigate the disaster.
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Data Availability Statement
No data, models, or code were generated or used during the study.
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Natural Hazards Review
Volume 23 • Issue 1 • February 2022
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 17, 2020
Accepted: Aug 24, 2021
Published online: Sep 29, 2021
Published in print: Feb 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Feb 28, 2022
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