2026: Making Sense of Gandak Flood II

November 5, 2026November 5, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flood inundated areas in Saran district after a breach in Gandak embankment. Source: IAF, Oct. 02, 2026)

After July 2020 Gandak floods, SANDRP had highlighted inconsistencies in flood levels recorded at the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) monitoring stations along the river and called for an independent investigation into embankment breaches, obstructions in the river and the role of Nepal’s catchment in the floods. Six years later, these concerns remain relevant and the Gandak continues to experience unusual flood spells.

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Dams · Godavari · River Pollution

HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM PRESENT IN GODAVARI, EXTENT STILL UNKNOWN: Institutional Apathy & Opacity Ahead of Kumbh Mela

October 26, 2026October 27, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

STATEMENT AND MEMORANDUM

To:

Chief Minister of Maharashtra cm@maharashtra.gov.in
Chief Secretary of Maharashtra cs@maharashtra.gov.in
Secretary of the Environment and Climate Change Department for the Government of Maharashtra psec.env@maharashtra.gov.in
Principal Secretary, Public Health Department for the Government of Maharashtra psec.pubhealth@maharashtra.gov.in
Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mscb.cpcb@nic.in
Member Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) ms@mpcb.gov.in
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) ceo@midcindia.org
Municipal Commissioner, Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner@nmc.gov.in commissionernmc@gmail.com
District Collector, Nashik collectorofficenashik@gmail.com

SUBJECT: INSTITUTIONAL APATHY & OPACITY AHEAD OF KUMBH MELA ON HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM POLLUTION IN NASHIK

Four weeks have elapsed since the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) were formally notified of acute industrial chemical contamination in the groundwater of Ambad (Dattanagar / Maruti Sankul).

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Climate Change · Dams, Rivers & People · Gandak · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster · Landslide dam

Oct. 2026: Budhi Gandaki Flashflood Affects Four Hydro Projects in Nepal

October 13, 2026October 15, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screengrab of BBC video report showing flood surge in Budhi Gandaki river damaging construction camp of 341 MW Budhigandaki HEP at Salleri in Gorkha district, Nepal in morning hours of Oct. 11, 2026)

The Budhi Gandaki river corridor in Nepal’s Gorkha district has witnessed a flash flood disaster causing extensive damage to public and private property. The flood reportedly began around 4:00 am on October 11, 2026, following the sudden breach of a landslide dam in a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki.

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Godavari · River Pollution

TOXIC EMERGENCY IN NASHIK AHEAD OF KUMBH MELA: GROUNDWATER TESTS 1,000 TIMES OVER SAFE CHROMIUM LIMITS

October 8, 2026October 11, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

PRESS NOTE — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laboratory testing has confirmed acute toxic contamination ongoing in Ambad, Nashik, where residential borewell water has turned bright yellow, likely due to industrial hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from the Ambad MIDC.

Local activists Roshan Kedar, Rajesh Pandit, their team and volunteers highlighted the issue and have been consistently following up with residents. Parineeta Dandekar, SANDRP visited the site and got the groundwater the sample tested in an accredited lab.

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Chambal · Dams, Rivers & People · Ganga · Gangetic Dolphins · Rivers Biodiversity

National Dolphin Day 2026: State of Gangetic Dolphins

October 6, 2026October 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 ten Gangetic dolphin deaths, including six 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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Floods · Highest Flood Level · Monsoon · Rivers

Rivers in Extreme Floods During SW Monsoon 2026

October 3, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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.

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Floods · Ganga · Highest Flood Level · Rivers

Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels in Sept 2026

October 1, 2026October 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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.

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Beas · Himachal Pradesh · Himalayas · Hydro Disaster

Sept. 2026: NHPC’s Parbati-II HEP Tunnel Leakage in Himachal Pradesh

September 23, 2026September 23, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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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Highest Flood Level · Rivers

Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels in August 2026

September 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Yamuna river near ISBT, Delhi on Aug. 23, 2026. BS Rawat/SANDRP)

In the third month of the 2026 southwest monsoon season, we have been able to document rivers breaching their respective Highest Flood Levels (HFLs) at least at 10 Central Water Commission (CWC) flood monitoring sites. These sites are spread across five river basins and four states mainly in central and east India.

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Floods · Ganga · Rivers · Urban Flood · Urban Rivers

Aug-Sep 2026: Mandakini Flood Disaster in Chitrakoot

September 4, 2026September 4, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screengrab of drone video capturing severe flood spell in Mandakini river in Chitrakoot town, Satna on Aug. 29, 2026. Source: Hindustan Samachar)

The Mandakini (Paisuni) river has witnessed a major flood event in the pilgrimage town spread across Satna and Chitrakoot districts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during August 28-30, 2026. The deluge was triggered after prolonged heavy rainfall in the upper hilly catchment of river, which broke records set 23 years ago. The flood spell has killed two people and left one missing in addition to causing widespread damage to public and private properties.

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