Abstract:
Executive summary
Following severe and successive flooding in Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Punjab in July and
August 2023, the British Geological Survey (BGS), in partnership with the National Institute of
Hydrology (NIH) Roorkee and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, undertook a study
to investigate flood mechanisms in the upland areas of HP and the impacts on downstream
groundwater in Punjab. The aim of this project was to constrain the scale of the extreme events
that occurred in HP and Punjab during the 2023 monsoon and to assess their cumulative impact
on groundwater recharge and contamination. The objectives were:
• characterise flood dynamics, cumulative impacts of persistent rain and the role of dams
during flooding in the mountains (HP) and plains (Punjab)
• quantify the impacts of floods on groundwater levels and recharge in Punjab, and relate
this to upstream and downstream flood characteristics
• quantify flood impacts on groundwater quality in Punjab
Description:
Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Climate Action for a Resilient
Asia (CARA) programme, the UK’s flagship regional programme to build climate resilience in
South Asia, South-east Asia and the Pacific Islands.
