Author(s): Sushmita Malla; Koichiro Ohgushi
Linked Author(s): Koichiro Ohgushi
Keywords: Land use land cover; Flood; HEC-RAS; Inundation; Bagmati River Basin; Nepal
Abstract: Flood disasters result in significant losses worldwide, impacting both tangible and intangible aspects. Floods triggered by monsoonal rainfall in Nepal, particularly along the Bagmati River and its tributaries, lead to erosion, sediment deposition, and channel migration. One dominant factor influencing hydrological processes, such as flood is land use and land cover (LULC). These changes significantly influence flooding dynamics in Nepal, affecting the nation prone to seasonal inundations and flash floods. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of changes in land use and land cover on flooding in the Bagmati River Basin, Nepal. The study, covering the period from 2000 to 2019, reveals significant changes in LULC in the Bagmati watershed. HEC-RAS is applied to the study by modeling to assess the extent of inundation caused by flooding. In this study, it is revealed that the area affected by inundation in built-up areas from 2000-2019 has increased by 15.4%. This result demonstrates that the expansion of inundated built-up areas poses higher risks to people living in flood-prone regions. Furthermore, it highlights the significant influence of LULC changes on flood events.
Year: 2024