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Flooding is emerging as a regular and increasing threat in urban Delhi, with the Yamuna floodplain experiencing nine prominent flood events since 1900. The deluge of July 2023 when the river level touched 208.48 meters, a 45-year record, exposed underlying urban vulnerabilities that were developed due to rapid unchecked urban growth, inundation over the floodplains, and deteriorating drainage (NIDM, 2023). These events have disproportionate effects on low-income people residing in the riverbanks and who stockpile hazards related to income security, health, displacement, and infrastructural access. Despite frequent discourse on climate resilience, the socio-economic effects of flooding in the long term, especially in the outer peripheries of urbanized East Delhi, remain grossly inadequate. The study seeks to analyze the complex socio-economic effect of flooding on communities living in the Yamuna floodplain using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF). The research follows a mixed-method approach through the convergence of systematic household surveys of 120 flood-affected families across six high-hazard areas, informant interviews with experts and government stakeholders, and geographic verification of flood-risk areas. Livelihood capitals of five natures human, financial, social, physical, and natural are quantified using a Livelihood Index method with the use of quantitative indexes and qualitative observations. Also, econometric and thematic analysis is employed to analyze patterns of vulnerability and resilience when faced with successive floods. The findings are that over 65% of the households experienced income losses of over 30%, and physical damage to housing, roads, and essential services caused acute livelihood dislocation on a daily basis. Human capital was eroded by health shock and schooling disruption. Social capital did act as a supply of in-kind assistance, though institutional trust stayed at record lows. Natural capital deterioration from water pollution and soil erosion presents a long-term sustainability threat in the region. Government departmental response (DDA, DJB, DDMA, etc.) analysis showed that only 18% followed flood SOPs, and most officers (83%) identified encroachment and non-functional drainage as the primary drivers of flood severity. The findings stress the urgency of integrated planning that aligns environmental protection, resilient infrastructure, and livelihood security.
Keywords: Urban Flooding, Yamuna Floodplain, Socio-Economic Vulnerability, Livelihood Capitals, Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, Governance Gaps, Climate Resilience, Delhi 2023 Flood, Livelihood Index, Flood Mitigation, Adaptive Strategies.
