NEW DELHI: The Centre is planning to launch an advanced system soon which will predict the possibility of floods during monsoons, giving local authorities the time to alert and evacuate people and prevent loss of life and property.
Heavy rainfall in the ongoing monsoon season has already led to major flooding in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and other smaller cities like Udupi in Karnataka, as well as in rural areas. This is likely to spread and worsen as the monsoon progresses.
The Flash Flood Guidance System being developed by the India Meteorological Department will take into account three key parameters —rain, temperature and soil hydrology — to forecast run off from soil. “The system will provide guidance that there is an evolving scenario towards possible flooding and it will be region specific. Then it will be upto the administration to take action,” said IMD Director General K J Ramesh.
Under this system, the country has been sub-divided into 27,000 micro watersheds (source of water) and each of about 50-70 sq km. The IMD will run a soil hydrology model by which one can clearly assess the run off potential of the soil. The model is being tested and is likely to be operational soon across India.
“There is something called local soil hydrology, which is moisture retained by the soil. After rainfall, once soil gets saturated then run off of water from soil starts. Based on amount of rainfall, temperature variation, soil hydrology and possibility of continuation of rainfall, the model will give soil run off data after saturation, but if it will turn into floods that is not known. It will depend on rainfall continuity,” said Ramesh.
Explaining the system, Ramesh says suppose if today 10 mm of rainfall takes place in any city, then we will calculate potential for run off. “When it starts and subsequent rain is continuing, then there is possibility of flooding. So, if it’s a river, it will go to river catchment and if it is a city then, it will have to be taken care by the city administration. If rain intensity is continuing like in Mumbai, flooding will happen. It is customised across country with observed data,” he said.
Flash Flood Guidance System
Flash Flood Guidance System being developed by IMD will take into account three key parameters —rain, temperature and soil hydrology. The system could be of significant help to civic authorities as flooding has become an annual phenomenon, taking lives and causing damage worth millions of rupees.