(Feature Image: Yamuna river near CWC flood monitoring site at Mawi in Kairana. SANDRP/June 2023)
SANDRP has compiled Highest Flood Level (HFL) breach incidents, which includes 2 incidents in June, 34 in July, 17 in August, 22 in September 2023. This report presents the final summary of all HFL breach incidents taking place during South West Monsoon season 2023. The PDF file has the details on all the HFL breach. Our previous reports on the subject can be seen here: HFL breach incidents in 2018, 2019, 2020, May-Sept 2021, Oct.-Nov 2021, May-June 2022 and July-October 2022. .
SEPTEMBER 2023: In the September 2023, we have mainly covered the 18 sites in Western India. The details of HFL breaches at 4 other sites in Ganga basin are given the in table below.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Time & Date | Rise over HFL | Above HFL for hours |
| 1 | Nagina/ Khoh | Bijnor/ UP | 236.75 m 06.08.2019 | 237.80 m 06:00 hr 11.09.2023 | 1.05 m | ~13 hrs |
| 2 | Atrauli/ Kali | Aligarh/ UP | 175.91 m 28.09.2021 | 176.14 m 01:00 hr 14.09.2023 | 0.23 m | ~80 hrs |
| 3 | Ramsanehi ghat/ Kalyani | Barabanki/ UP | 101.7 m 21.09.2021 | 102.62 m 08:00 hr 16.09.2023 | 0.92 m | ~160 hrs |
| 100.27 m 30.09.2019 | ||||||
| 4 | Narsinghgarh/ Sonar | Damoh/ MP | 335.1 m 22.08.2022 | ~335.5 m* 11 hr 16.09.2023 | NA | NA |
*We could not monitor the final peak in flood level at Narginghgarh site on Sonar river in Madhya Pradesh and do not have information about flood level staying above the old HFL at the site.
OCTOBER 2023: In October 2023, the GOLF event in Sikkim has resulted in HFL breaches at 2 sites along Teesta river in Brahmaputra basin. The details of these 2 sites are given in table below.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Time & Date | Rise above old HFL | Hours flowing above old HFL |
| 1 | Khanitar/ Teesta | East/ Sikkim | 297.7 m 18.09.1974 | 298.4 m 09:00 hr 04.10.2023 | 0.7 m | ~05 hrs |
| 2 | Melli/ Teesta | South/ Sikkim | 225.25 m NA | 228 m 04:00 hr 04.10.2023 | 2.75 m | ~07 hrs |
River Basin Wise Summary
There are at least 70 sites in 10 river basins where flood levels have exceeded previous HFL during the SW monsoon 2023. 33, or nearly half of these incidents have taken place in Ganga basin including 21 on Yamuna sub basin and 12 on Ganga rivers during this period. The rivers in Narmada basin have recorded HFL breach incidents at least at 18 sites. These 2 river basins have cumulatively seen 51 of all HFL breach incidents in this monsoon season.
Similarly, there have been 5 HFL breach incidents in Brahmaputra basin, 4 in Godavari, 3 each in Krishna & Tapi basins, 2 in Indus basin and 1 each in Luni & Mahi River basins in this period. The river basin wise details of HFL breach incidents in SW monsoon 2023 can be seen in table below.
| SN | Basin | State | Level Monitoring | Level Forecast | Total |
| 1 | Brahmaputra | Assam | 02 | 01 | 03 |
| Sikkim | 01 | 01 | 02 | ||
| 03 | 02 | 05 | |||
| 2 | Indus | Himachal Pradesh | 02 | 00 | 02 |
| 3 | Yamuna | Himachal Pradesh | 03 | 00 | 03 |
| Haryana | 04 | 00 | 04 | ||
| Delhi | 00 | 01 | 01 | ||
| Uttar Pradesh | 07 | 01 | 08 | ||
| Madhya Pradesh | 05 | 00 | 05 | ||
| 19 | 02 | 21 | |||
| 4 | Ganga | Uttarakhand | 06 | 00 | 06 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 05 | 01 | 06 | ||
| 11 | 01 | 12 | |||
| 5 | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | 18 | 00 | 18 |
| 6 | Mahi | Madhya Pradesh | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| 7 | Tapi | Madhya Pradesh | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Maharashtra | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| Gujarat | 00 | 01 | 01 | ||
| 02 | 01 | 03 | |||
| 8 | Luni | Gujarat | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| 9 | Godavari | Telangana | 03 | 01 | 04 |
| 10 | Krishna | Telangana | 03 | 00 | 03 |
| Total | 63 | 7 | 70 |
Region & State Wise Summary
The HFL breach sites are spread over 11 states. Maximum 30 HFL breach sties in North India followed by 28 in Western India. The South and North East regions have seen breaching of HFLs at 07 and 05 sites respectively.
| SN | Region | States | No. | |
| 1 | North East | Assam | 03 | |
| 2 | Sikkim | 02 | 05 | |
| 3 | North India | Himachal Pradesh | 05 | |
| 4 | Uttarakhand | 06 | ||
| 5 | Haryana | 04 | ||
| 6 | Delhi | 01 | ||
| 7 | Uttar Pradesh | 14 | 30 | |
| 8 | Western India | Madhya Pradesh | 25 | |
| 9 | Maharashtra | 01 | ||
| 10 | Gujarat | 02 | 28 | |
| 11 | South India | Telangana | 07 | 07 |
| 70 | 70 |
Month Wise Summary
The month wise summary table shows that maximum 29 sites registering crossing of their respective HFLs have occurred in July 2023 followed by 22 in September and 16 in August 2023.
| SN | River Basin | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Total |
| 1 | Brahmaputra | 01 | 00 | 02 | 00 | 02 | 05 |
| 2 | Indus | 00 | 02 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| 3 | Yamuna | 00 | 16 | 02 | 03 | 00 | 21 |
| 4 | Ganga | 00 | 02 | 07 | 03 | 00 | 12 |
| 5 | Narmada | 00 | 00 | 05 | 13 | 00 | 18 |
| 6 | Mahi | 00 | 00 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| 7 | Tapi | 00 | 01 | 00 | 02 | 00 | 03 |
| 8 | Luni | 00 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| 9 | Godavari | 00 | 04 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 04 |
| 10 | Krishna | 00 | 03 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 03 |
| Total | 01 | 29 | 16 | 22 | 02 | 70 |
Sites Where HFL is Crossed Thrice & More
Incidents of same sites breaching HFLs seems to be increasing. We could track 5 sites where old HFLs are crossed multiple time in 2023 monsoon season. While Khoh river at Nagina site in Bijnor, UP breached the old HFL 5 times; old HFLs are breached 4 times at the Suklai & Puthimari rivers in Baksa district, Assam. Similarly, the old HFLs at Maskara river at Ghodopipli site in Yamuna Nagar & Ganga river at Kachhala Bridge site in Budaon, UP are crossed thrice. The PDF summary file details the information of 9 more sites where old HFL is breached twice during the monsoon season.
| SN | Site/ River/ District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | HFL breach in 2023 | HFL breach in 2023 | HFL breach in 2023 | HFL breach in 2023 |
| 1 | Nagina/ Khoh/ Bijnor/ UP | 236.75 m 06.08.2019 | 237.80 m 11.09.2023 | 237.4 m 13.07.2023 | 237.32 m 23.08.2023 | 237.25 m 18.07.23/ 236.82 m 10.07.2023 |
| 2 | Suklai/ Suklai/ Baksa/ Assam | 75.85 m 25.06.2020 | 76.16 m 23.08.2023 | 76.05 m 21.06.2023 | 76.01 m 15.06.2023 | 75.9 m 20.06.2023 |
| 3 | DRF/ Puthimari/ Baksa/ Assam | 144.51 m 19.06.2022 | 144.98 m 20.06.2023 | 144.79 m 17:06.2023 | 144.73 m 21.07.2023 | 144.54 m 15.06.2023 |
| 4 | Ghodopipli/ Maskara/ Y Nagar/ HR | 271.25 m 18.08.2019 | 271.35 m 11.07.2023 | 271.33 m 13.07.2023 | 271.25 m 10.07.2023 | |
| 5 | Kachhla Bridge/ Ganga/ Budaun/ UP | 162.79 m 27.09.2010 | 162.91 m 20.07.2023 | 162.84 m 19.08.2023 | 162.80 m 30.07.2023 |
While the number of sites where old HFL is breached is 70, if we calculate the total number of HFL breach incidents in this monsoon season it would be 93. This final summary carries information on total number of sites witnessing HFL breach incident in this monsoon season.
Sites where HFL is Crossed After a Decade
There are a total of 11 sites where old HFL is breached after more than a decade. Maximum of these sites 5 are in Telangana, 2 in MP and 1 each in Sikkim, Delhi, Haryana & MP. The old HFLs at Mandleshwar site on Narmada in MP, Khanitar site on Teesta in Sikkim, Railway Bridge site on Yamuna in Delhi and Dhareri site on Chambal in MP have been breached after 4 decades.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Date | Crossing HFL after years |
| 1 | Mandleshwar/ Narmada | Khargone/ MP | 157.29 m 31.08.1973 | 158.4 m 16.09.2023 | 50 yrs |
| 2 | Khanitar/ Teesta | East/ Sikkim | 297.7 m 18.09.1974 | 298.4 m 04.10.2023 | 49 yrs |
| 3 | Railway Bridge/ Yamuna | North/ Delhi | 207.49 m 06.09.1978 | 208.66 m 13.07.2023 | 45 yrs |
| 4 | Dhareri/ Chambal | Ujjain/ MP | 482.208 m 10.08.1979 | 482.62 m 17.09.2023 | 44 yrs |
| 5 | Somanpally/ Maner | Karim Nagar/ Telangana | 128.604 m 24.07.1989 | 129.02 m 27.07.2023 | 34 yrs |
| 6 | Mohna/ Yamuna | Faridabad/ Haryana | 192.43 m 09.09.1995 | 192.44 m 14.07.2023 | 28 yrs |
| 7 | Sangam/ Murredu | Bhadradri/ Telangana | 57.3 m 17.06.1996 | 57.48 m 27.07.2023 | 27 yrs |
| 8 | Puleru Bridge/ Poleru | Krishna/ Telangana | 76.79 m 10.08.2008 | 77.057 m 27.07.2023 | 15 yrs |
| 9 | Kachhla Bridge/ Ganga | Budaun/ UP | 162.79 m 27.09.2010 | 162.91 m 20.07.2023 | 13 yrs |
| 10 | Bhainsa/ Suddavagu | Nirmal/ Telangana | 354.27 m 16.08.2010 | 354.77 m 27.07.2023 | 13 yrs |
| 11 | Pomanpalli/ Manerru | Krishna/ Telangana | 70.21 m 30.07.2010 | 70.78 m 27.07.2023 | 13 yrs |
Sites Crossing Old HFL by more than 2 Meter Margins
Old HFL at Borwa site on Mahi River in Ratlam, MP has been breached by highest margin of 5.55 meters. Similarly, Alaknanda river at Chhinka stie has crossed the old HFL by 5.31 meters margin. There are 2 sites where old HFL is breached more than 4 meters margins; 1 site where old HFL is breached by more than 3 meters margin and 9 sites where old HFL is breached by more than 2 meters margin. The PDF file contains the details of 14 more sites where rivers have crossed their old HFLs by more than 1 meter margin.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Date | Rise above old HFL |
| 1 | Borwa/ Mahi | Ratlam/ MP | 325.8 03.08.2016 | 331.35 m 16.09.2023 | 5.55 m |
| 2 | Chhinka/ Alaknanda | Chamoli/ UKD | 1005.69 m 19.08.2019 | 1011 m 14.08.2023 | 5.31 m |
| 3 | Bhamgarh/ Chota Tawa | Khandwa/ MP | 270.68 m 01.09.2019 | 275.25 m 16.09.2023 | 4.57 m |
| 4 | Palwal/ Yamuna | Palwal/ Haryana | 182.25 m 22.08.2019 | 186.49 m 16.07.2023 | 4.24 m |
| 5 | Vijay Raghavgarh/ Tons | Katni/ MP | 342.36 m 29.08.2020 | 345.58 m 05.08.2023 | 3.42 m |
| 6 | Kaner at Mendhikheda/ Narmada | Khargone/ MP | 214.81 m 14.07.2022 | 217.7 m 16.09.2023 | 2.89 m |
| 7 | Singaldeep/ Hiran | Jabalpur/ MP | 363.3 m 22.08.2022 | 366.14 m 04.08.2023 | 2.84 m |
| 8 | Borad at Thikri/ Borad | Barwani/ MP | 165.55 m 07.08.2019 | 168.33 m 16.09.2023 | 2.78 m |
| 9 | Melli/ Teesta | South/ Sikkim | 225.25 m NA | 228 m 04.10.2023 | 2.75 m |
| 10 | Karam at Dahiwar/ Narmada | Dhar/ MP | 166.925 m 22.08.2020 | 169.66 m 16.09.2023 | 2.73 m |
| 11 | Ropa/ Ropa Khad | Kinnaur/ HP | 3048.28 m 17.07.2019 | 3050.85 09.07.2023 | 2.57 m |
| 12 | Devprayag (A)/ Alaknanda | Pauri/ UKD | 467.78 m 19.10.2021 | 469.97 m 14.08.2023 | 2.49 m |
| 13 | Gorakhpur/ Narmada | Dindori/ MP | 743.33 m 14.09.2022 | 745.75 m 03.08.2023 | 2.42 m |
| 14 | Savni/ Hiran | Gir Somnath/ Gujarat | 20.9 m NA | 23.25 m 19.07.2023 | 2.35 m |
Sites Staying in Extreme Flood for More Than 50 Hours
The flood levels in Puthimari river at DRF stie have stayed above of HFL for about 2 weeks in June 2023. The Ganga river at Kachhla bridge; Yamuna river at Shergarh in July 2023, Kalayani river at Ramsanehighat in September have remained in extreme flood situation for more than a week.
There are 6 sites where rivers have stayed over old HFL for about 3 days. The PDF summary file has the information of 5 more sites where rivers have flown in extreme floods for about 2 days.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Date | Hrs flowing above old HFL |
| 1 | DRF/ Puthimari | Baksa/ Assam | 144.51 m 19.06.2022 | 144.98 m 20.06.2023 | ~317 hrs |
| 2 | Kachhla Bridge/ Ganga | Budaun/ UP | 162.79 m 27.09.2010 | 162.91 m 20.07.2023 | ~180 hrs |
| 3 | Shergarh/ Yamuna | Mathura/ UP | 176.19 m 30.09.2022 | 177.32 m 16.07.2023 | ~170 hrs |
| 4 | Ramsanehi ghat/ Kalyani | Barabanki/ UP | 101.7 m 21.09.2021 | 102.62 m 16.09.2023 | ~160 hrs |
| 5 | Atrauli/ Kali | Aligarh/ UP | 175.91 m 28.09.2021 | 176.14 m 14.09.2023 | ~80 hrs |
| 6 | Singaldeep/ Hiran | Jabalpur/ MP | 363.3 m 22.08.2022 | 366.14 m 04.08.2023 | ~80 hrs |
| 7 | Raysi/ Sonali | Haridwar/ UKD | 232.24 m 01.09.2018 | 232.94 m 14.07.2023 | ~74 hrs |
| 8 | Ropa/ Ropa Khad | Kinnaur/ HP | 3048.28 m 17.07.2019 | 3050.85 09.07.2023 | ~68 hrs |
| 9 | Railway Bridge/ Yamuna | North/ Delhi | 207.49 m 06.09.1978 | 208.66 m 13.07.2023 | ~68 hrs |
| 10 | Basantpur/ Ganga | Bijnor/ UP | 100.17 m 29.08.2021 | 100.68 m 16.08.2023 | ~66 hrs |
The CWC needs to examine and explain the cases of DRF site in Assam and Kachhla bridge site in UP where HFLs are breached multiple times and the rivers have stayed in extreme floods for over a week.
Rivers Flowing Close to HFL
Our monthly HFL breach reports have also detailed 36 sites where the flood levels in respective rivers have either touched or reached close to the HFL. This includes 1 such incident in June, 12 in July, 11 in August and 12 in September 2023.
In addition to this, there is only one site Mekhliganj on Teesta river where the flood level went close to the HFL in October 2023. The details of 10 sites missing crossing old HFL with narrowest margins is given in table below including the Mekhliganj site in 11th row.
In all, we could track 37 flood monitoring sites where rivers have narrowly missed crossing the HFL in south west monsoon season 2023. And the attached PDF summary file has the information about 26 sites where rivers have reached very close to their respective old HFLs.
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | HFL in meters/ Date | Peak Leve/ Time & Date | Missed breaching HFL |
| 1 | Sataynarayan/ Song | Dehradun/ UKD | 338.8 m 20.08.2022 | 338.8 m 14.08.2023 | Touched |
| 2 | Lemeking/ Subansiri | U Subansiri/ Arunachal | 1107.16 27.07.2016 | 1107.15 m 28.06.2023 | 0.01 m |
| 3 | Suraithota/ Dhauliganga | Chamoli/ UKD | 2147.74 m 05.07.2020 | 2147.66 m 14.08.2023 | 0.08 m |
| 4 | Benibad/ Baghmati | Muzaffarpur/ Bihar | 50.01 m 12.07.2004 | 49.92 m 28.08.2023 | 0.09 m |
| 5 | Dadahu/ Giri | Sirmaur/ HP | 629.02 m 18.08.2019 | 628.92 m 09.07.2023 | 0.10 m |
| 6 | Fatehgarh/ Ganga | Farrukhabad/ UP | 138.14 m 26.09.2010 | 137.99 m 21.08.2023 | 0.15 m |
| 7 | Mandla/ Narmada | Mandla/ MP | 439.40 m 15.07.1974 | 439.2 m 04.08.2023 | 0.20 m |
| 8 | Tal/ Chambal | Ratlam/ MP | 438.12 m 26.07.2015 | 437.9 m 18.09.2023 | 0.22 m |
| 9 | Palla/ Yamuna | North West/ Delhi | 212.8 m 08.09.1995 | 212.55 m 13.07.2023 | 0.25 m |
| 10 | Kurubhata/ Mand | Raigarh/ Chhattisgarh | 220.4 m 28.08.2020 | 220.12 m 03.08.2023 | 0.28 m |
| 11 | Mekhliganj/ Teesta | Cooch Behar/ W Bengal | 66.62 m 22.10.2021 | 66.28 m 04.10.2023 | 0.34 m |
Along with monthly HFL reports this time, we have published two separate reports pointing out some serious issues in CWC’s flood monitoring work as seen in July & August 2023 and during GLOF event in Sikkim in October 2023 and one report documenting Alaknanda flood in August 2023.
Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
SANDRP 