Streamflow data-sharing policy for the Ganga Basin

Abstract

Hilly regions of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh witnessed a spell of widespread torrential rainfall from 15 to 17 June 2013. India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted on 14 June that rainfall in Uttarakhand will exceed 100 mm/day in many mountainous areas during 16 and 17 June. This prediction was not followed up and the floods caused a huge loss of life and property. Apparently, no satisfactory early flood warning system was in place for the affected areas and no studies have been completed to set up a flood forecasting model on the catchments in the Upper Ganga Basin.