July 2026: Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels

August 6, 2026September 27, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Yamuna river at Kalanaur flood monitoring station in Saharanpur on March 31, 2025. SANDRP)

In July 2026, SANDRP has documented Highest Flood Level (HFL) breaches at least at 15 flood monitoring sites of Central Water Commission (CWC) in India. These 15 sites are spread over 7 river basins, with maximum 4 sites in Brahmaputra basin followed by 3 sites each in Brahmani & Baitarani and Mahanadi basin, 2 sites in West Flowing Rivers from Tapi to Tadri basin and at 1 site each in Ganga, Narmada and Tapi river basin.

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CWC - Central Water Commission

CWC Flood Forecast Website Failure at Start of 2026 Monsoon Season

June 11, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Screen shot of CWC’s FF website taken on June 11, 2026)

Fundamental problems continue to plague Central Water Commission’s (CWC) flood monitoring work. In the latest such incident, its main Flood Forecast (FF) website remained inaccessible for over a week, right at the beginning of the forecast season.

As per a CWC presentation at the annual flood preparedness conference on May 2, 2026, it has a network of 1543 hydrological observation stations & 360 flood forecasting stations including 201 level forecast & 159 inflow forecast stations covering 20 river basins in 27 states & UTs.

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Floods · Highest Flood Level · Monsoon · Rivers

Rivers in Extreme Floods During SW Monsoon 2025

October 4, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

This is the summary report of Highest Flood Levels (HFL) breach incidents which we could document from CWC’s flood monitoring website during South West Monsoon Season 2025. The monthly reports for HFL breach incident for July 2025, August 2025 and September 2025 can be seen by clicking the hyperlinks and the detailed final report can be seen here. SANDRP’s 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, and 2024.

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Highest Flood Level

Rivers Flowing in Extreme Floods in September 2025

October 1, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Yamuna river in severe flood at Mawi site in Kairana, UP on Sept. 02, 2025)

We have been able to observe river attaining new Highest Flood Level (HFL) at least at 18 flood monitoring sites of the Central Water Commission (CWC) in the last month of South West Monsoon 2025. These 18 sites are spread over 7 States & UT, including Jammu & Kashmir (6 sites), Maharashtra (4 sites), Uttar Pradesh (3 sites), Haryana (2 sites), Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka (1 each site) comprising 5 river basins including Indus (6), Ganga (6), Krishna (3), Tapi (2) and Godavari (1).

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CWC - Central Water Commission · Floods · Highest Flood Level · Monsoon · River Basin

Rivers Crossing the Highest Flood Levels in Aug 2025

September 23, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

In the third month of South West Monsoon season 2025, we have been able to track at least 23 flood monitoring sites of the Central Water Commission (CWC) where the respective rivers have crossed their Highest Flood Level (HFL). These 23 sites are spread over 5 river basins -11 sites in Ganga basin, 9 sites in Indus basin & 1 each in Mahi, Godavari and Krishna basins.

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Disasters · floodplains · Floods · Yamuna River

Sept 2025: Why did Yamuna Repeat July 2023 Like Flood Spell in Delhi?

September 9, 2025September 15, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: NDRF team gazing at flooded relief camps at Yamuna bazar, Delhi)

In first week of September 2025, Yamuna river in Delhi has again witnessed another unusual flood spell. This is happening two years after the river recorded unprecedent flood event in July 2023. This report compares the July 2023 flood with the one in Sept 2025 underlining the probable factors making these deluges uncommon and man-made flood disaster.

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Bhagirathi · Climate Change · Disasters · Floods · Ganga · Himalayas

Dharali Disaster: Bhagirathi River Blockage Partially Removed

August 17, 2025August 22, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Formation of artificial lake in Bhagirathi river at Harshil, Uttarkashi)

After 11 days since the Dharali disaster unfolded in Bhagirathi valley Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, an artificial lake formed on Bhagirathi river has been removed to some extent by the joint team of concerned departments on Aug 16, 2025 noon. The lake was formed after the Tel gaad partially blocked the Bhagirathi river at Harshil about 2.5 km downstream of Dharali.

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CWC - Central Water Commission · Highest Flood Level · River Basin

Rivers Crossing the Highest Flood Levels in July 2025

August 1, 2025October 2, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Hydrograph of Pin river at Gulling site in Lahul & Spiti on July 04, 2025)

In July 2025 during the South West Monsoon, we have found rivers crossing their respective Highest Flood Levels (HFL) at least at 12 flood monitoring sites of Central Water Commission (CWC). Of the 12 sites, 11 are in Ganga basin and 1 site is in Narmada basin. The details of all these sites are given in table below. The sixth column of the table is the information about rise in meter (m) over the old HFL, duration (hours-hrs) the river has stayed in extreme floods and number of years (yrs) after the HFL is breached. The 12 sites are spread over 5 states: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

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Climate Change · Glaciers · Hydro Disaster

July 2025: GLOF Disaster Impact Ten HEPs in Nepal

July 24, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Pre and post flood images of Tibet’s Pyurepu Glacier region. Source)

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) disaster in Lehende Khola river impacted several hydro-electric power (HEP) projects in Nepal on July 8, 2025. The deadly flood occurred around 3 am in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts of Nepal bordering Tibet region under China control. As a result, the water level in Lehende river rose by 3.5 meters in Timure, Rasuwa. The merging of Kerung and Lehende rivers in Tibet forms the Bhotekoshi river in Nepal and it is part of Trishuli sub-basin under Narayani river system.

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CWC - Central Water Commission · Floods · Indus

Himachal Pradesh: Why CWC’s Forecasting is Unavailable Amidst Flood Disaster?

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Screenshot of inactive hydrograph for Solang station on Beas river in Mandi district. Source: CWC Flood Forecast website)

Despite disastrous flood events causing significant destruction to human lives and infrastructures for past three years, the state of Himachal Pradesh has not seen much required improvements in flood monitoring and forecast servicesby the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) to help minimize the destruction toll.

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