ANNOUNCEMENTS
Floods are a recurring phenomenon in the ecologically sensitive Kaziranga National Park (KNP), requiring an in-depth understanding of flood risk dynamics. The current study integrates GIS, remote sensing and an understanding of hydrological parameters to assess the flood risk in KNP. Using AHP-based multi-criteria analysis, flood hazard zones were identified based on parameters such as rainfall, elevation, slope. Validation was conducted using Sentinel-1 SAR imagery, where the extracted flood extent was compared with predicted high-risk zones. The SCS-CN method was used to simulate runoff by generating Curve Numbers based on rainfall, land use and soil texture. Trend analysis was performed using the Mann-Kendall (MK) test for several hydrometeorological parameters. Flood frequency analysis using the Gumbel and the Log Pearson Type III distribution was conducted to estimate the return period of peak discharges, providing insights into flood recurrence patterns. Wetland dynamics (1995–2025) were assessed using NDWI-based thresholding, showing a significant decline in key wetlands such as Daphlong Beel, Borbeel, Dighali Beel, and Koladuwar Beel, with the largest reduction in Koladuwar Beel (78.4%). The findings highlight rising flood risks in Kaziranga National in the face of climate change, stressing the need for sustainable mitigation and conservation.
Keywords: Flood risk, Kaziranga, Analytic Hierarchy Process, SCS-CN, Wetland Dynamics, Extreme Events.
