Flood Vocabulary – বন্যার শব্দাবলী
Essential Terms for Understanding and Communicating During Floods
Floods are a common natural disaster in many parts of the world, including Bangladesh. To effectively understand news, reports, and safety measures during such events, it’s crucial to be familiar with flood-related vocabulary in both English and Bengali. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or someone directly affected by floods, learning these flood terms can help you stay informed and communicate better in emergencies.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of essential flood vocabulary words that cover everything from general flood terms to warnings and safety measures. This vocabulary list is designed to enhance your knowledge of the language used during flood situations, making it easier to understand updates, warnings, and safety protocols.
Let’s explore these important flood-related words in both English and Bengali to better prepare for and communicate during flood events.
Flood – (বন্যা)
An overflow of water that submerges land.
Inundation – (পানি জমা হওয়া)
The covering of land with water.
Deluge – (বন্যার প্লাবন)
A severe flood, often involving heavy rain.
Floodplain – (বন্যার সমতল)
The flat area adjacent to a river or stream that is subject to flooding.
Overflow – (অতিরিক্ত পানি)
When water spills over its normal boundaries.
Flash Flood – (আকস্মিক বন্যা)
A rapid and intense flood that occurs suddenly.
Dike – (বাঁধ)
A barrier constructed to prevent the overflow of water.
Dam – (বাঁধ)
A structure built to hold back water and control its flow.
Erosion – (ভূমি ক্ষয়)
The process by which water wears away soil and rock.
Submerge – (ডুবে যাওয়া)
To be covered or engulfed by water.
Drainage – (নিষ্কাশন)
The system or process of removing excess water.
Waterlogged – (জলমগ্ন)
Saturated with water, often to the point of being unusable.
Evacuation – (অধিকাংশ স্থান ত্যাগ করা)
The process of moving people from an affected area to safety.
Floodgate – (বন্যার দরজা)
A gate used to control the flow of water in flood situations.
Silt – (সার)
Fine sediment carried by water and deposited by floods.
Rise – (উঠান)
The increase in water level, often leading to flooding.
Relief Efforts –(সহায়তা প্রচেষ্টা)
Activities aimed at providing help and support to flood-affected areas.
Emergency Response – (জরুরি প্রতিক্রিয়া)
Immediate actions taken to address and mitigate the impact of a flood.
Flood Barrier – (বন্যা বাঁধ / বাধা)
A physical structure designed to block or redirect floodwater.
Storm Surge – (ঝড়ের ঢেউ)
An abnormal rise in sea level caused by storm winds, which can lead to flooding.
Swell – (ফুলে ওঠা)
The gradual increase in water level.
Downpour – (মুষলধারে বৃষ্টি)
Heavy and continuous rainfall.
Runoff – (বৃষ্টির পরে দ্রুত পানি জমা হওয়া)
Water from rainfall that flows over the surface of the ground.
Sandbags – (বালির ব্যাগ)
Bags filled with sand, used as a barrier against flooding.
Sandbags – (বালির ব্যাগ)
Bags filled with sand, used as a barrier against flooding.
Reservoir – (জলাধার)
A large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
Urban Flooding – (শহরের বন্যা)
Flooding that occurs in a city or populated area.
Airlift – (বিমান উত্থাপন)
The transportation of people or goods by aircraft, especially in emergencies.
Landslide – (ভূমিধস)
The sliding down of a mass of earth or rock due to water saturation.
Levee – (কৃত্রিম পাড়)
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.
Reconstruction – (পুনর্গঠন)
The process of rebuilding after a disaster.
Understanding flood vocabulary is essential for staying safe and informed during flood situations. By familiarizing yourself with these flood-related terms in both English and Bengali, you can more effectively understand warnings, follow safety guidelines, and communicate with others in times of need.
Keep this vocabulary list handy as a valuable resource, whether you’re studying about floods or facing an emergency situation. The more you familiarize yourself with these terms, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel during flood-related events.
Moreover, mastering flood vocabulary for better preparedness and safety is something that can help you communicate better in different situations when encountered with floods in your area.
So, stay safe, stay informed, and continue expanding your flood vocabulary for better preparedness!
Read the story of The Great Flood to understand the use of these flood related words!
Pre-Flood: It all began with the forecast of an impending flood (বন্যা). The days-long downpour (মুষলধারে বৃষ্টি) caused rivers and streams to swell (ফুলে ওঠা) beyond their normal levels, threatening nearby villages.
Meteorologists warned of inundation (পানি জমা হওয়া) in low-lying areas, where the river might breach its banks. The community prepared for the worst, knowing that their homes near the floodplain (বন্যার সমতল) were vulnerable.
The river, which had been calm, quickly transformed into a raging deluge (বন্যার প্লাবন). The relentless rain filled the reservoirs (জলাধার) behind the dams (বাঁধ) to dangerous levels. Authorities tried to manage the overflow (অতিরিক্ত পানি) by releasing water from the dams, but the intense runoff (বৃষ্টির পরে দ্রুত পানি জমা হওয়া) from the surrounding hills only added to the pressure.
To hold back the flood, workers reinforced dikes (বাঁধ) and installed additional sandbags (বালির ব্যাগ). However, in some areas, the water rose too fast, leading to flash floods (আকস্মিক বন্যা) that tore through the streets. The local storm drains (ঝড়ের জল নিষ্কাশন) couldn’t keep up, causing urban flooding (শহরের বন্যা), where water began to fill the roads and submerge homes.
During the Flood: As the floodwaters continued to rise, entire communities were submerged. People watched helplessly as their homes were engulfed, with cars and buildings nearly disappearing beneath the water. Many areas became completely submerged (ডুবে যাওয়া) as the flood crested its peak. The land turned into waterlogged (জলমগ্ন) marshes, making it impossible to navigate without boats.
In response to the emergency, authorities called for a full-scale evacuation (অধিকাংশ স্থান ত্যাগ করা) of the most affected areas. Helicopters were dispatched to provide airlifts (বিমান উত্থাপন) for those trapped on rooftops. In other regions, floodgates (বন্যার দরজা) were opened to reduce the pressure, but it was clear that nature was in control.
The force of the flood caused widespread erosion (ভূমি ক্ষয়), washing away soil and collapsing riverbanks. Farms and roads were destroyed as silt (সার) and debris choked the waterways. Landslides (ভূমিধস) were triggered in nearby hills due to the excess water, adding to the devastation.
Post-Flood: After several days, the storm passed, and the floodwaters began to recede. What was left was a landscape covered in mud and debris. Fields were buried under layers of silt (সার), and homes were coated with muck. The damage to the land was severe, and the process of recovery was daunting.
Teams of volunteers and professionals quickly began relief efforts (সহায়তা প্রচেষ্টা). The government declared the area a disaster zone, allowing for more resources and international aid to assist with flood relief (বন্যা পুনর্বাসন). Supplies of food, water, and medicine were flown in to help the survivors. However, the challenges weren’t over—many areas remained waterlogged (জলমগ্ন), delaying cleanup operations.
The reconstruction (পুনর্গঠন) process was slow, as large parts of the infrastructure had been destroyed. Roads had to be rebuilt, homes restored, and drainage (নিষ্কাশন) systems improved to prevent future disasters. New flood barriers (বন্যা বাধা) and levees (কৃত্রিম পাড়) were planned to protect against future surges.
Communities began to rebuild, but the scars of the flood were deeply felt. Though the emergency response (জরুরি প্রতিক্রিয়া) had been swift, it would take years for the region to fully recover from the effects of the storm surge (ঝড়ের ঢেউ) and flooding.
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