In News:

In a significant advancement in disaster risk management, Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil inaugurated C-FLOOD, a Unified Inundation Forecasting System. Developed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), C-FLOOD marks a pivotal step toward strengthening India's flood preparedness and mitigation strategy.

What is C-FLOOD?

C-FLOOD is a web-based, real-time flood forecasting platform designed to deliver two-day advance inundation forecasts at village-level resolution. It provides:

• Flood inundation maps
• Water level predictions
• Localized early warnings to support disaster response and planning.

Developing Agencies:

• Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune
• Central Water Commission (CWC)
• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)

Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), and Department of Science & Technology (DST).

Key Features:

• 2-Day Village-Level Forecasts: Localized and high-resolution predictions up to the gram panchayat level.
• Advanced 2-D Hydrodynamic Modelling: Simulations run on High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems under NSM.
• Multi-Basin Coverage: Initially operational in the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi river basins, with future expansion planned.
• Unified Data Integration: Combines outputs from national and regional flood models into one platform.
• Disaster Portal Linkage: Designed for integration with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response Portal (NDEM).
• Climate-Adaptive Governance: Supports flood forecasting in regions vulnerable to climate-induced extreme weather events.

Strategic Importance:

• Disaster Risk Reduction: Enables timely warnings, efficient evacuations, and minimizes loss of life and property.
• Scientific & Operational Integration: Bridges hydrological modelling with on-ground responses.
• Supports Viksit Bharat @2047 Vision: Contributes to climate-resilient water governance.
• Promotes Inter-Agency Synergy: Encourages coordination among CWC, C-DAC, NRSC, and disaster management bodies.

Government Directions and Future Path:

During the inauguration, the Union Minister emphasized:

• Wide dissemination of C-FLOOD to enhance public awareness.
• Expansion to all major river basins through comprehensive inundation studies.
• Improved accuracy via satellite data validation and ground-truthing.
• Integration with NDEM for real-time emergency response.

The minister lauded the collaborative spirit of CWC, C-DAC, and NRSC, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to proactive and technology-driven disaster management.