Flood forecast app launched by Water Commission

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated19/08/2023

The Central Water Commission recently launched an in-house developed 'FloodWatch' mobile app.

Objective: To forecast floods and minimise risk during flood events.
It provides a seven-day advisory on the chances of floods at various stations in the country where the CWC maintains its measurement gauges.
The app has a map of India with coloured circles at water stations indicating the current risk of flooding.
- Green circle: normal
- Yellow: above normal
- Orange: severe
- Red: extreme
Clicking on a circle shows the current water level at the station, the highest level historically attained, the danger level and warning level.
The warnings are in English or Hindi with an option for a voice-enabled prompt.
The app utilises advanced technologies such
- satellite data analysis
- mathematical modelling
- real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land.
While it may occur along river banks, lakes and sea coasts, river flooding is the most common of all around the world.
According to the NDMA, India is highly vulnerable to floods.
- Out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares (mha), more than 40 mha is flood prone.
- On average every year, 75 lakh hectares of land is affected, 1600 lives are lost due to floods.

It is a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources.
It is presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Responsibilities
- Initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned
- Conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for the purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.