(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.
Our previous reports on the subject can be seen here: HFL breach incidents in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (I), 2021 (II), 2022 (I), 2022 (II), 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Table 1 HFL breach in Oct. 2026: Ganga Basin
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Time/ Date | Rise/ Duration/ Year/ |
| 1 | Sitapur/ Sarayan | Sitapur/ Uttar Pradesh | 131.1 m/ NA | 131.13 m/ 23:00 hr/ 01.10.2026 | +0.03 m/ ~51 hrs/ NA |
| 2 | Narajole/ Shilabati | West Medinipur/ W. Bangal | 10.74 m/ 25.08.2025 | 10.88 m/ 12:00 hr/ 01.10.2026 | +0.14 m/ ~22 hrs/ 01 yr |
Table 2 River flowing close to HFL in Oct. 2026
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | HFL/ Date | Peak Level/ Date | Gap |
| 1 | Darauli/ Ghagra | Siwan/ Bihar | 61.82 m/ 15.10.2022 | 61.69 m/ 05:00 hr/ 02.10.2026 | -0.13 m |
River Basin Wise Summary: The 52 sites are spread over 9 river basins consisting of 46 level monitoring and 06 are level forecast sites. The Maximum 21 sites are located in Ganga basin followed by 8 in Brahmani & Baitarani basin, 7 sites in Godavari basin and 4 each in Brahmaputra and Mahanadi basin.
Table 3: Rivers Basin Wise Summary
| SN | Basin | States | Level Monitoring | Level Forecast | Total |
| 1 | Brahmaputra | Assam | 02 | 02 | 04 |
| 2 | Ganga | Uttar Pradesh | 05 | 00 | 05 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 04 | 00 | 04 | ||
| Bihar | 08 | 03 | 11 | ||
| West Bengal | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| Total | 18 | 03 | 21 | ||
| 3 | Brahmani & Baitarani | Odisha | 08 | 00 | 08 |
| 4 | Mahanadi | Odisha | 03 | 00 | 03 |
| Chhattisgarh | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| Total | 04 | 00 | 04 | ||
| 5 | EFR Mahanadi-Pennar | Odisha | 02 | 00 | 02 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| Total | 03 | 00 | 03 | ||
| 6 | Godavari | Odisha | 03 | 00 | 03 |
| Chhattisgarh | 03 | 01 | 04 | ||
| Total | 06 | 01 | 07 | ||
| 7 | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Gujarat | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| 02 | 00 | 02 | |||
| 8 | Tapi | Maharashtra | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| 9 | WFR Tapi – Tadri | Maharashtra | 01 | 00 | 01 |
| Gujarat | 01 | 00 | 01 | ||
| Total | 02 | 00 | 02 | ||
| TOTAL | 46 | 06 | 52 |
Region & State Wise Summary: With 28 sites, the East region has witnessed more than half of the HFL breach incidents in 4-month SW monsoon 2026. In central region, river witnessed extreme flood at 12 sites followed by 5 sites in North and 4 sites in North East. In West and South, HFLs were breached only at 2 and 1 site respectively during this four-month time.
State-wise, the 52 sites are spread across 10 states. More than half of the incidents (27) have occurred in just two states of Odisha (16) and Bihar (11). Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have each seen rivers in extreme floods at 5 sites.
Table 4: Region & State Wise Summary
| SN | Region | States | No. | Total |
| 1 | Northeast | Assam | 04 | 04 |
| 2 | East | Bihar | 11 | |
| 3 | Odisha | 16 | ||
| 4 | West Bengal | 01 | 28 | |
| 5 | North | Uttar Pradesh | 05 | 05 |
| 6 | West | Gujarat | 02 | 02 |
| 7 | Central | Madhya Pradesh | 05 | |
| 8 | Chhattisgarh | 05 | ||
| 9 | Maharashtra | 02 | 12 | |
| 10 | South | Andhra Pradesh | 01 | 01 |
| Total | 52 | 52 |
Month Wise Summary: Almost half of the all HFL breach incidents (25) have taken place in Sept. alone which is also the last month of the monsoon season. July and Aug. months have seen 15 and 10 HFL breach incidents. Unlike previous year, we did not find rivers in extreme flood in May and June 2026.
Table 5: Month Wise Summary
| SN | River Basin | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Total |
| 1 | Ganga | 01 | 05 | 13 | 02 | 21 |
| 2 | Brahmani & Baitarani | 03 | 02 | 03 | 00 | 08 |
| 3 | Godavari | 00 | 01 | 06 | 00 | 07 |
| 4 | Brahmaputra | 04 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 04 |
| 5 | Mahanadi | 03 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 04 |
| 6 | EFR Mahanadi-Pennar | 00 | 01 | 02 | 00 | 03 |
| 7 | Narmada | 01 | 00 | 01 | 00 | 02 |
| 8 | WFR Tapi – Tadri | 02 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| 9 | Tapi | 01 | 00 | 00 | 00 | 01 |
| Total | 15 | 10 | 25 | 02 | 52 |
Rivers Crossing HFLs Twice: Of the 5 sites listed in table below, 4 are in Odisha states and 1 in Madhya Pradesh where rivers have crossed their respective HFLs twice in the season.
Table 6: Sites Where HFL is Crossed More than Once
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL (m)/ Date | New HFL 1 | New HFL 2 |
| 1 | Keshdihi/ Baitarani | Mayurbhanj/ Odisha | 317.79 m/ 26.08.2020 | 318.08 m/ 10:00 hr/ 13.08.2026 | 318.73 m/ 11:00 hr/ 25.09.2026 |
| 2 | Bhejdih/ Baitarani | Mayurbhanj/ Odisha | 293.41 m/ 14.09.2021 | 293.45 m/ 07:00 hr/ 13.08.2026 | 294.9 m/ 14:00 hr/ 25.09.2026 |
| 3 | Bhadrak/ Baitarani | Bhadrak/ Odisha | 13.24 m/ 15.08.2022 | 13.53 m/ 18:00 hr/ 29.07.2026 | 14.03 m/ 22:00 hr/ 26.09.2026 |
| 4 | Ghatakusumi/ Journala | Nabranga- pur/ Odisha | 544.9 m/ 19.08.2025 | 547.37 m/ 16:00 hr/ 24.08.2026 | 548.41 m/ 15:00 hr/ 26.09.2026 |
| 5 | Rewa/ Tons | Rewa/ Madhya Pradesh | 265.45 m/ 02.08.2021 | 266.16 m/ 18:00 hr/ 20.08.2026 | 266.08 m/ 20 hr/ 30.08.2026 |
Top 10 sites Crossing HFLs after Decades: The Indravathi river at Nowrangapur, Jagdalpur and Chindnar sites have crossed the HFL after five and two decades. The Hasdeo river and Bangodam and Ambika river at Gadat site has crossed the HFL after 42 and 32 years respectively. Similarly, in Assam the Desang river at Nanglamoraghat and Dikhow river at Bihubar site have witnessed extreme flood levels after 28 years.
Table 7: Sites Where HFL is Crossed After Decades
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Date | Gap |
| 1 | Nowrangapur/ Indravathi | Nabarangapur/ Odisha | 559.33 m/ 07.07.1973 | 559.545 m/ 25.09.2026 | 53 yrs |
| 2 | Jagdalpur/ Indaravathi | Bastar/ Chhattisgarh | 544.68 m/ 09.07.1973 | 544.891 m/ 26.09.2026 | 53 yrs |
| 3 | Bangodam/ Hasdeo | Korba/ Chhattisgarh | 302.1 m/ 23.09.1984 | 303.5 m/ 17.08.2026 | 42 yrs |
| 4 | Gadat/ Ambika | Surat/ Gujarat | 13.985 m/ 16.06.1994 | 14.58 m/ 23.07.2026 | 32 yrs |
| 5 | Nanglamora ghat/ Desang | Sivsagar/ Assam | 96.49 m/ 06.09.1998 | 96.6 m/ 21.07.2026 | 28 yrs |
| 6 | Bihubar/ Dikhow | Sivsagar/ Assam | 104.77 m/ 24.06.1998 | 105.3 m/ 20.07.2026 | 28 yrs |
| 7 | Chitrakoot/ Paisuni | Satna/ MP | 142.65 m/ (2003) | 145.6 m/ 29.08.2026 | 23 yrs |
| 8 | Nagothane/ Amba | Raigad/ Maharashtra | 13.75 m/ 25.07.2005 | 13.99 m/ 06.07.2026 | 21 yrs |
| 9 | Chindnar/ Indravathi | Dantewada/ Chhattisgarh | 340.2 m/ 05.07.2006 | 340.49 m/ 26.09.2026 | 20 yrs |
| 10 | Keonjhar/ Ararai | Kendujhar/ Odisha | 462 m/ 21.07.2009 | 463.81 m/ 28.07.2026 | 17 yrs |
Rives at Top 10 Sites Crossing HFLs by the Highest Margin: Interestingly, 5 of the sites where rivers have crossed HFL with the highest margin are in Odisha state alone followed by 3 in Chhattisgarh. The Ong river at Padampur, Journala at Ghatakusumi both in Odisha have breached their respective HFLs by over 3.5 meter margin each. The Paisuni river at Chitrakoot and Sabari river at Talnar site have overtopped the old HFLs by more than 2.5 meter margin.
Table 8: Top 10 Sites Crossing HFL with Highest Margin
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL Date | New HFL/ Date | Margin |
| 1 | Padampur/ Ong | Bargarh/ Odisha | 179.24 m/ 28.08.2020 | 183.13 m/ 30.07.2026 | +3.89 m |
| 2 | Ghatakusumi/ Journala | Nabranga- pur/ Odisha | 544.9 m/ 19.08.2025 | 548.41 m/ 26.09.2026 | +3.51 m |
| 3 | Chitrakoot/ Paisuni | Satna/ MP | 142.65 m/ (2003) | 145.6 m/ 29.08.2026 | +2.95 m |
| 4 | Talnar/ Sabari | Sukma/ Chhattisgarh | 211.28 m/ 08.08.2022 | 213.81 m/ 26.09.2026 | +2.53 m |
| 5 | Keonjhar/ Ararai | Kendujhar/ Odisha | 462 m/ 21.07.2009 | 463.81 m/ 28.07.2026 | +1.81 m |
| 6 | Telkoi/ Brahmani | Kendujhar/ Odisha | 141.69 m/ 14.09.2021 | 143.45 m/ 28.07.2026 | +1.76 m |
| 7 | LALGANJ/ Belan | Mirzapur/ UP | 137.55 m/ 17.07.2025 | 139.15 m/ 18.08.2026 | +1.60 m |
| 8 | Bhejdih/ Baitarani | Mayurbhanj/ Odisha | 293.41 m/ 14.09.2021 | 294.9 m/ 25.09.2026 | +1.49 m |
| 9 | Malgaon/ Pairi | Gariaband/ Chhattisgarh | 327.86 m/ 16.08.2022 | 329.33 m/ 30.07.2026 | +1.47 m |
| 10 | Bangodam/ Hasdeo | Korba/ Chhattisgarh | 302.1 m/ 23.09.1984 | 303.5 m/ 17.08.2026 | +1.40 m |
Rivers at Top 10 Sites Crossing HFL with the Lowest Margins: The first 7 sites where river have crossed their respective HFLs with narrow margin are part of Ganga basin.
Table 9: Top 10 Sites Crossing HFL with Lowest Margin
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL/ Date | New HFL/ Time/ Date | Margin |
| 1 | Hathidah/ Ganga | Patna/ Bihar | 43.52 m/ 12.08.2021 | 43.52 m/ 06.09.2026 | Touched |
| 2 | Kolhachak/ Dhardha | Patna/ Bihar | 56.13 m/ 18.07.2025 | 56.13 m/ 04.09.2026 | Touched |
| 3 | Ekchari/ Gerua | Bhagalpur/ Bihar | 33.45 m/ 11.08.2025 | 33.47 m/ 10.09.2026 | +0.02 m |
| 4 | Danapur/ Ganga | Patna/ Bihar | 52.61 m/ 15.08.2021 | 52.63 m/ 06.09.2026 | +0.02 m |
| 5 | Sitapur/ Sarayan | Sitapur/ Uttar Pradesh | 131.1 m/ NA | 131.13 m/ 01.10.2026 | +0.03 m |
| 6 | Bankaghat/ Ganga | Patna/ Bihar | 49.44 m/ 16.08.2021 | 49.47 m/ 06.09.2026 | +0.03 m |
| 7 | Bhejdih/ Baitarani | Mayurbhanj/ Odisha | 293.41 m/ 14.09.2021 | 293.45 m/ 13.08.2026 | +0.04 m |
| 8 | Sirijholi Nala/Badajor | Rayagada/ Odisha | 82.81 m/ 14.10.2020 | 82.85 m/ 23.08.2026 | +0.04 m |
| 9 | Ahiro/ Gerua | Banka/ Bihar | 52.85 m/ 04.08.2025 | 52.9 m/ 26.09.2026 | +0.05 m |
| 10 | Gorakhpur/ Narmada | Dindori/ MP | 745.75 m/ 03.08.2023 | 745.8 m/ 26.09.2026 | +0.05 m |
Rivers at Top 10 Sites Staying in Extreme Floods for the Longest Hours: The Ganga river at Pandarak stayed in extreme floods for 3 days. The flood level in Journala river at Ghatakusumi remained over old HFL for two days in Aug and Sept. month. The Desang river at Desganpani and Sarayan river at Sitapur remained in extreme floods for more than 2 days.
Table 10: Top 10 Sites Staying in Extreme Floods for Longest Hours
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | Old HFL (m)/ Date | New HFL (m) / Date | Duration |
| 1 | Pandarak/ Ganga | Patna/ Bihar | 43.73 m/ 16.08.2021 | 43.92 m/ 06.09.2026 | ~78 hrs |
| 2 | Ghatakusumi/ Journala | Nabranga- pur/ Odisha | 544.9 m/ 19.08.2025 | 547.37 m/ 24.08.2026 | ~53 hrs |
| 3 | Sitapur/ Sarayan | Sitapur/ UP | 131.1 m/ NA | 131.13 m/ 01.10.2026 | ~51 hrs/ |
| 4 | Desangpani/ Desang | Charaideo/ Assam | 106.26 m/ 24.04.2016 | 106.60 m/ 23.07.2026 | ~51 hrs |
| 5 | Ghatakusumi/ Journala | Nabarangapur/ Odisha | 547.37 m/ 24.08.2026 | 548.41 m/ 26.09.2026 | ~50 hrs |
| 6 | Lalganj/ Gandak | Vaishali/ Bihar | 52.12 m 02.10.2024 | 52.32 m/ 30.09.2026 | ~44 hrs |
| 7 | Nanglamora -ghat/Desang | Sivsagar/ Assam | 96.49 m/ 06.09.1998 | 96.6 m/ 21.07.2026 | ~38 hrs |
| 8 | Dumaria-ghat/ Gandak | Gopalganj/ Bihar | 64.36 m/ 24.07.2020 | 64.64 m/ 30.09.2026 | ~37 hrs |
| 9 | Sohar/ Mohan | Singrauli/ MP | 256.39 m/ 30.09.2019 | 256.93 m/ 31.08.2026 | ~37 hrs |
| 10 | Talnar/ Sabari | Sukma/ Chhattisgarh | 211.28 m/ 08.08.2022 | 213.81 m/ 26.09.2026 | ~37 hrs |
Top 10 Sites Where Rivers Rose Close to HFL: Interestingly, 8 of the top 10 rivers narrowly missing breaching their respective HFLs are part of Ganga basin. Notably, the Sone River at Maner missed crossing the 1976 HFL by just 0.02 meter.
Table 11: Top 10 Sites Missing HFL Breach with Narrow Margins
| SN | Site/ River | District/ State | HFL/ Date | Peak Level/ Date | Gap |
| 1 | Rajhara/ North Koel | Palamau/ Jharkhand | 183.21 m/ 20.08.2019 | 183.2 m/ 19.08.2026 | -0.01 m |
| 2 | Manhar/ Ganga | Vaishali/ Bihar | 48.91 m/ 16.08.2021 | 48.9 m/ 06.09.2026 | -0.01 m |
| 3 | Maner/ Sone | Patna/ Bihar | 53.79 m/ 18.09.1976 | 53.77 m/ 05.09.2026 | -0.02 m |
| 4 | Thakraha/ Gandak | P.Champaran/ Bihar | 78.68 m/ 23.07.2020 | 78.65 m/ 28.09.2026 | -0.03 m |
| 5 | Yadunathpur/ Sone | Rohtas/ Bihar | 149.35 m/ 19.07.2025 | 149.3 m/ 02.09.2026 | -0.05 m |
| 6 | Kahalgaon/ Ganga | Bhagalpur/ Bihar | 32.87 m/ 17.09.2003 | 32.81 m/ 08.09.2026 | -0.06 m |
| 7 | Paragaon/ Bhima | Pune/ Maharashtra | 515.72 m/ 06.08.2019 | 515.65 m/ 07.07.2026 | -0.07 m |
| 8 | Benibad/ Bagmati | Muzaffarpur/ Bihar | 50.12 m/ 07.10.2025 | 50.03 m/ 30.09.2026 | -0.09 m |
| 9 | Mathani RB/ Jalka | Baleshwar/ Odisha | 7.31 m/ 22.09.2021 | 7.22 m/ 13.08.2026 | -0.09 m |
| 10 | Darauli/ Ghagra | Siwan/ Bihar | 61.82 m/ 15.10.2022 | 61.69 m/ 05:00 hr/ 02.10.2026 | -0.13 m |
SANDRP
