Engineer builds floating house in northern India, aimed to alleviate housing concerns during floods
by Komal KashyapIn an amusing incident, an engineer from Ara built a floating house in northern India’s Bihar.
The incident took place on the Ganges River in Buxar district. The video went viral on November 28, 2023.
Visuals showed the house made up of materials like soil, straw, lime, bamboo, and various recycled items floating in water.
According to reports, Prashant Kumar, a young engineer from Ara built it to help people during floods. The house works on solar energy and accommodates 6-7 people at a time.
Prashant highlighted that many areas in Bihar are severely impacted by flooding, often forcing residents to evacuate. When they return, they frequently discover their homes have been destroyed, leaving them without shelter. This situation inspired him to create a solution for the housing difficulties faced by those affected by floods. He garnered support from friends in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and other nations for this initiative. The goal of this pilot project was to ease housing concerns during floods, allowing people to live without the constant fear of losing their homes.
The floating house is secured underwater using iron angles, which allows it to rise and fall with the river’s waves during floods. Engineer Prashant emphasized that this house is distinctive not only in its innovative design but also because it is constructed entirely from natural materials. It includes cow dung, bamboo, straw, rice husks, and recycled iron. Moreover, the construction process produced zero carbon emissions. The overall cost of the project was approximately six lakh rupees. Over the last three months, a diverse group of individuals from multiple countries has collaborated on this mission, all dedicated to safeguarding communities from disasters
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