An analysis of the daily district wise rainfall data from India Meteorological Department (IMD) for July 2026 shows that there were 844 (718 in July 2025, 914 in July 2024, 855 in July 2023, 809 in July 2022 and 717 in July 2021) instances when district rainfall of a day was above 50 mm.
Continue reading “High Rainfall days in India’s districts in July 2026”
National Dolphin Day 2026: State of Gangetic Dolphins
(Feature Image: Collage of Gangetic dolphin corpses found in UP, Bihar, Assam & West Bengal between Dec. 2025 & Aug. 2026.)
Marking the National Dolphin Day-Oct. 5, 2026-, this report highlights the deaths, threats and relevant developments concerning the national aquatic animal. In last one year, we have found reports of at least nine Gangetic dolphin deaths, including five in Uttar Pradesh, two in West Bengal, and one each in Bihar and Assam. The reported death toll is higher than in the previous two years, indicating continuing concerns over their survival.
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DRP 051026: Drought: how prepared are we?
(Feature Image: Weekly drought monitor map dated 23 Sept. 2026 shows drought condition in India. Credit: Vimal Misra/ Drought Monitor India )
The DRP issue this week seems to have one central theme, connecting the various parts: Deficit monsoon leading to reduced reservoir levels, increased pollution, mass fish deaths and announcements of unprecedented droughts in more than one state. Since it was known to be a super El Nino Year and even IMD had predicted (though ratgher conservatively) deficit monsoon, the ultimate deficit of 12.6% in SW Monsoon rainfall may in fact seem like bit of a relief. This was largely thanks to unexpected above average rainfall in the wettest month of SW Monsoon, July, largely due to favorable Indian Ocean Dipole.
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Rivers in Extreme Floods During SW Monsoon 2026
(Feature Image: Aerial view of a residential area inundated by Ganga floodwaters in Patna, Bihar on Sept. 10, 2026. Source: TNIE/Credit: PTI)
This is the final analysis of CWC’s flood monitoring sites where we could track rivers crossing their respective Highest Flood Levels (HFL) in months of July (at 15 sites), Aug. ( at 10 sites) and Sept. ( at 25 sites) during South West Monsoon Season 2026.
In addition, there are 2 sites where HFL breach has happened on Oct. 01, 2026 and 1 site where HFL breach is missed by narrow margin on Oct. 02, 2026. All the three sites are part of Ganga basin and details of the same is given in table 1 and 2 below.
Continue reading “Rivers in Extreme Floods During SW Monsoon 2026”
SW Monsoon 2026: District wise rainfall in India
In the just concluded South West Monsoon 2026, India received 759.4 mm (937.2 mm in SW Monsoon 2025, 934.8 mm in SW Monsoon 2024, 820 mm in SW Monsoon 2023, 925 mm in SW Monsoon 2022[i]) rainfall, about 87.4% (107.9% in 2025, 107.6% in 2024, 94.45 % in 2023, 106.5% in 2022) of the Normal SW Monsoon rainfall of 868.6 mm as per India Meteorological Department (IMD). The 2026 SW Monsoon rainfall is 4th lowest since 2001 and first deficient monsoon since 2015. It is the 13th lowest rainfall since 1901. This rainfall is categorised as deficient rainfall since deficit is over 10%.
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Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels in Sept 2026
(Feature Image: River Yamuna at Palla in Delhi in Aug. 2026. BS Rawat/SANDRP)
In the last month of south west monsoon season 2026, we have been able to track Central Water Commission’s (CWC) 25 flood monitoring sites where rivers have crossed their respective Highest Flood Levels (HFL). These sites are spread over 5 river basins in 5 states.
Continue reading “Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels in Sept 2026”
June Aug 2026: District wise rainfall in India’s SW Monsoon
In Aug 2026, India received 213.9 mm (268.8 or 5.45% above normal in Aug 2025, 295.5 mm or 15.8% above normal in Aug 2024[i], 162.7 mm or 36.2% below normal in Aug 2023[ii], 263.8 mm in Aug 2022, 3.5% above the normal[iii]) or 16.1 % below normal rainfall of 254.9 mm as per India Meteorological department (IMD). In Aug 2021, the rainfall was 195.9 mm[iv], about 24.13% below normal and in Aug 2020, the rainfall was 327 mm[v], or about 26.6% above normal.
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DRP 280926: Early Warning System important, but not a magic bullet
(Feature Image: Aerial image of the Wanlixi landslide and lake as of 30 July 2026. Credit: Forestry & Nature Conservation Agency, Taiwan, Source: EOS.Org)
While writing about the landslide dam breach in Taiwan last year leading to 24 deaths, Dave Petley remarked: As always, the focus should be on vulnerability and resilience rather than only early warning systems (EWS). This is indeed worth emphasizing, underlining, highlighting. While early warning systems can be important and must be used wherever possible, it is not a magic bullet. It is one of the many other instruments in disaster management.
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Sept. 2026: NHPC’s Parbati-II HEP Tunnel Leakage in Himachal Pradesh
(Feature Image: A damaged house in Palchara village by debris flood after a leak in the Parbati II HEP tunnel on Sept. 19, 2026 in Sainj Valley. Source: The Tribune)
The Sept. 2026 tunnel leakage at NHPC’s Parbati-II HEP in Kullu’s Sainj Valley triggered a sudden flow of water, muck and debris towards Palchara village. Although there was no loss of life, the incident has damaged houses, agricultural land and local infrastructure. It occurred amid a series of leakage and seepage incidents reported in and around the project in recent years, raising renewed concerns over tunnel safety, muck dumping and slope stability in the project area.
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DRP 210926: Mismanagement at BBMB projects confirmed by CEA and Punjab
(Feature Image: The Tribune’s file photo of Pandoh dam)
The Central Electricity Authority has said in its report that there have been some serious operational and maintenance issues at BBMB’s Pandoh project, part of Beas Sutlej Link Project. In a separate development, Punjab government affidavit in the NGT has said that due to mismanagement at Bhakra-Pong dams, there has been avoidable flood disasters in Punjab in several years. Both developments confirm what we have said about role of BBMB projects in 2023 and 2025 floods in Punjab.
Continue reading “DRP 210926: Mismanagement at BBMB projects confirmed by CEA and Punjab”
