Devastating Floods Threaten Himalayan Communities as Rainfall-Runoff Modeling Predicts Catastrophic Scenarios
Researchers predicted rainfall runoff in a snow-fed area of Himachal Pradesh, India using a computer model called HEC-HMS. They collected data about the land, soil, and rainfall from online sources. By simulating various rainfall scenarios, they found that the runoff amount differed with the return period. For example, in extreme cases, the highest runoff peak reached 4729.5 cubic meters per second. The study focused on the Rampur watershed, situated in two districts. The researchers used models to calculate how much water would flow out of the catchment area based on different rainfall situations. Their work helps understand how water moves through the area during heavy rain events and can be used for planning and management in the region.