Analyzing occurrences, frequency and patterns of extreme floods in the Wainganga River basin

Abstract

Extreme flood occurrences linked to the monsoon season are common in India, threatening significant infrastructure damage and posing fatalities in the affected populations. Flood frequency analysis and assessment of its patterns are critical components of hydrologic planning, which is the precise estimation of floods, which forms the basis for flood management, community safety, minimizing infrastructure damage, irrigation support, and hydropower project facilitation techniques. In order to assist engineers in designing flood resilient structures, this study offers a flood frequency analysis using the Gumbel method for calculating the likely magnitude of extreme floods (such as the flood that occurs once every 100 years) for various return periods in the Wainganga River basin at three gauging stations, i.e., Ashti, Ramakona and Satrapur. The analysis highlights notable disparities in peak discharge values between these locations, attributable to their distinct geographical characteristics and contributing catchment areas. The findings show that at Ashti, the projected peak discharge exceeds the peak observed data for most return periods. The Satrapur site lacks extraordinary figures on one side for upstream gauging stations, whereas Ramakona displays predicted discharges surpassing only 75 and 100 years of the return period. This study offers insightful information that helps decision-makers in the area manage floodplains, build hydraulic infrastructure, and enforce land-use rules.