‘Peculiar’ rain pattern in HP, Punjab led to 2023 flooding

Ludhiana, August 22

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has reported that the flooding in the state last year was caused by peculiar rainfall pattern in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

The unprecedented flooding in Punjab last year had resulted in colossal damage to life, livestock and agricultural produce. It thus had a devastating impact on the populace, as a quarter of the working population in Punjab is dependent upon agriculture and allied sectors for their livelihood.

The study, “Punjab Floods 2023” was conducted by Dr Prabhjyot Kaur, Dr Sandeep Sandhu and Dr Simerjeet Kaur to understand the causes and impact of floods in Punjab in 2023.

The flooding in Punjab happened as a consequence of peculiar rainfall patterns in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in July of the same year. While Punjab received about 5 per cent less rainfall than typical during the 2023 monsoon season, July was an outlier, with the rainfall exceeding the normal by 43 per cent. A similar pattern was spotted in Himachal Pradesh, which witnessed 75 per cent more rainfall than normal in July. The rainfall in Himachal, however, peaked at its highest point between July 7 and July 11, when it exceeded 436 per cent of normal within four days.

The rainfall received in the upstream state of Himachal Pradesh is the source of water for Punjab’s three major rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — as well as their tributaries. The four-day of excessive rainfall in Himachal Pradesh caused the rivers in Punjab to breach, resulting in floods in various parts of Punjab.

In the same period, heavy rainfall continued across other parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh which significantly increased the water level in the reservoirs, making it imperative to keep the floodgates at Bhakra and Pong dams open, which further worsened the condition.

This resulted in an inundation of fields, homes, and villages, particularly in the Bet area, forcing the residents to evacuate their homes and abandon their fields. The districts of Patiala, Mohali, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, and Fatehgarh Sahib felt the most brunt due to the overflowing Ghaggar, Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers.

Dr Prabhjyot Kaur, Principal Scientist in Agrometeorology, PAU said: “Climatic extremes are becoming frequent and resilience as well as adaptive measures are the need of the hour. The novel concept of community nursery and langar of rice nursery advocated by the PAU and strengthened by administration and farmers is a prime model to be replicated in parts of the country where floods are frequent.”

Dr SS Sandhu, Principal Agronomist, PAU, said: “Proactive approach along with proper guidance by the university and adaptive behaviour of farmers presented an example of adoptable and reproducible climate resilience, which can be adopted in other regions of India.”