Monsoon Fury: Water Level in Hathnikund Barrage Rises to Record High

Strategic Insights -

As heavy rainfall in catchment areas continues, the water level in the Hathnikund barrage has reached an alarming 3.50 lakh cusecs, prompting high flood alerts for Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. This comes as the India Meteorological Department warns of intense rainfall and deadly landslides in northern states, with heavy rain killing hundreds across the Himalayan states in August and forecasting above-normal September rainfall.

Key Takeaways:

  • The water level in the Hathnikund barrage rose to 3.50 lakh cusecs, the highest this monsoon, on Monday, amid heavy rainfall in catchment areas.
  • The 70,000 cusecs to 1.5 lakh cusecs is considered "low flood", 1.5 lakh cusecs to 2.5 lakh cusecs is "medium flood", and above 2.5 lakh cusecs is "high flood".
  • Haryana's irrigation and water resources department said there was a "low flood" situation at the barrage in Yamunanagar around midnight when the water crossed 1 lakh cusecs, prompting them to open the floodgates.
  • The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of intense rainfall and more deadly landslides to northern states, with heavy rain killing hundreds across the Himalayan states in August.
  • The IMD forecast above-normal September rainfall, with precipitation projected to exceed 109% of the long-term average extending over the next two months.
  • The northwest region, including Delhi and the mountain ranges, recorded its wettest August since 2001, with episodic cloudbursts, mudslides, and landslides expected.
  • Large-scale devastation continued across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, with incessant rainfall triggering landslides, flash floods, road cave-ins, and infrastructure collapse.
  • Residents in low-lying areas of Haryana are advised not to venture near the Yamuna, and authorities have been alerted to prepare for the impending flood.

Statistics:

  • 3.50 lakh cusecs: the highest water level in the Hathnikund barrage this monsoon.
  • 1 lakh cusecs: the water level at the barrage in Yamunanagar around midnight, prompting the opening of floodgates.
  • 109%: the projected rainfall to exceed the long-term average extending over the next two months.
  • 28.32 litres per second: the equivalent volume of water per cusec.
  • 48 to 72 hours: the time it will take for the water to reach Delhi from Haryana.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, "Monsoon fury: Water level in Hathnikund barrage rises to record high", September 1.
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD), warning of intense rainfall and deadly landslides to northern states.
  • Haryana's irrigation and water resources department, notification of low flood situation at the barrage in Yamunanagar.