Hydrological Characteristics of 7<sup>th</sup> February 2021 Rishi Ganga Flood: Implication towards Understanding Flood Hazards in Higher Himalaya
Authors
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Department of Rural Technology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
Naresh Rana -
Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
Yaspal Sundriyal
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Department of Geography, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221 110
Shubhra Sharma
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Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
Firoz Khan
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Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
Sameeksha Kaushik
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Department of Geography, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda – 151 401
Pritam Chand
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Department of Geology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar – 246 174
Dhirendra Singh Bagri
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Department of Basic and Social Sciences, College of Forestry, Rani chauri, Tehri Garhwal – 249 199
Saraswati Prakash Sati
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Kabir Enclave, Bopal, Ahmedabad – 380 058
Navin Juyal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1781-4Keywords:
No KeywordsAbstract
A flash flood that originated from Raunthi Gad-a tributary of the Rishi Ganga river, in Garhwal Himalaya, caused unprecedented loss to lives and damaged two hydropower projects on 7th Februray 2021. In order to asses the flood magnitude, the flow parameters of the flood were calculated using the super-elevation of the flood marks preserved in the flood affected valleys.
The textural characteristics of the flood deposits in the upper reaches of the valleys indicate dominance of debris flows. The peak discharge upstream of the confluence of Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga was around 1.1×105 m3/s, which was four order of magnitiude higher than the normal peak discharge (∼ 3 m3/s). The flow achieved a velocity of 30±3 m/s. An exponential reduction in the flow velocity (from ∼37 to 2 m/s) with distance is observed. For which the river gradient and increase in sediment load is implied flow that along its entrained way downstream between Raini and Tapovan. Considering the sensitivity of paraglacial zones to climate change, the paper calls for detailed studies pertaining to the response of paraglacial zones to extreme weather events. Importantly, it is necessary to have more hydrological data covering multiple valleys for predictive model simulation of the nature and magnitude of such disasters in future.
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