8 George F. Dales, who led the 1964
excavations at Mohenjo-Daro, wrote "
The archaeological evidence strongly suggests that large-scale community projects were indeed undertaken at Mohenjo-Daro for this purpose protecting the city from river floods]”. (# 7 Ref George F. Dales, Article)7 As an example, massive mud-brick platforms were erected
and faced with fired brick, apparently with the objective of raising the level of the city safely above lake waters. One such embankment, partially excavated by the expedition is some 70 feet wide and well over 25 feet high. After each immersion the inhabitants of Mohenjo-Daro found it necessary to rebuild or reinforce most of the city's buildings. Although they usually rebuilt directly on top of the
older foundations and walls, they eventually encountered serious problems of decay and sinking. The ruins today dramatically illustrate the problems they faced.
1. Flood countermeasures taken at Mohenjo-Daro included the
construction of massive brick embankments to keep the level of the city above water. A pit was dug down through 25 feet on unfired brick in one such embankment without reaching bottom.
2. Flood damage at Mohenjo-Daro is evidenced
by slumping brick masonry, which presumably reflects erosion of the city's unfired brick foundations during their prolonged immersion in lake water. The
Harappans simply levelled masonry and built on top of it. Fig. 10
– Massive Brick embankments. Fig. 11
– Brick Foundations
Mohenjo-Daro.
7
# 7 Ref George F. Dales, Article
9
• HISTORY OF DISASTER Disasters happen all around the globe and leave a lot of human suffering and physical damage behind. In recent years there has been an enormous amount of economic and social
damage related to disasters, with climate change and changes in socio environmental vulnerability patterns being predicted to emphasize this trend further in the future. There is an increasing unpredictability of hazard patterns which makes disaster planning more difficult.
(# 8 Ref IPCC, 2012)8Share with your friends: 
