The furious floods

Kerala is facing the wrath of a deadly flood which is one of the most dangerous it has ever seen. Thousands have been displaced. Let’s glimpse into the world of floods and recollect some disastrous floods of all times.

1 The Great flood of ’99 was one of the most devastating one to have disrupted this entire Indian state. This was the year 1099 ME in the Malayalam Calendar (Kollam Era) and the flood is generally called the flood of ’99. Kundala Valley Railway, the first monorail system in India was also completely destroyed. Identify the state.

2 The ancient people of this civilisation measured the flood levels of rivers using a rare structure called a Nilometre. They levied taxes according to how high water levels were. If the water level indicated there would be a strong harvest, taxes would be higher. Identify the civilisation.

3 Saint Marcellus’ flood of 1362 is popularly known by this term. It is a Low German word which means “Great Drowning of Men”. In January of 1362, a storm driven by intensely high winds hit Ireland. The medieval town of Dunwich in England now lies under the sea because of this. What is the term?

4 Three hundred years ago, an enormous storm surge inundated the coastal area of the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia and took the lives of 17,000 people. It happened on a festive day, and the flood is known for the festive day. Identify.

5 Floods are dangerous. So what about a Volcanic Flood? The Armero tragedy of 1985 was one of the major consequences of the eruption of a stratovolcano in this country. Footage and photographs of Omayra Sánchez, a young victim of the tragedy is associated with this. Identify.