The Impact of Kaliaghai River Flood 2021 A Detailed Study of Socio Economic and Environmental Consequences in West Bengal

The frequency and intensity of floods in the Kaliaghai River Basin of West Bengal, India, have increased significantly over the past two decades, resulting in severe socio economic and environmental consequences. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of recurrent floods across Sabang LVI 0.322 , Patashpur I LVI 0.278 , Bhagwanpur I LVI 0.064 , Narayangarh LVI 0.050 and Patashpur II LVI 0.039 blocks. Using a mixed methods approach, it integrates household surveys 400 samples , key informant interviews, focus group discussions and geospatial analysis 2000 2022 to analyse rainfall water table patterns, land use changes and community vulnerability. The study identified a strong relationship between a 3 day cumulative rainfall of more than 250 mm and a rise in river water level of more than 6 m, which triggers flood conditions. For example, on 19 September 2021, 382 mm of rainfall resulted in a rise in water level of 8.9 m, exceeding the flood threshold. About 51 of households surveyed faced displacement due to floods, with an average loss of 12,000 25,000 per incident. Agricultural losses were extensive, with crop losses estimated at 14,200 per hectare, affecting over 3,800 hectares of paddy and 1,200 hectares of vegetables. Relief reach was limited—only 38 of respondents reported receiving timely assistance. Health impacts were significant, as 43 of households reported post flood illnesses such as diarrhoea and skin infections. Ecological analysis showed that vegetation cover in wetlands and lowlands had decreased by 21 , mainly due to siltation, encroachment, and the expansion of uncontrolled fishing structures e.g., patas , which obstructed river flow and worsened waterlogging. The study emphasizes the combined impact of natural factors short term heavy rainfall, sediment accumulation and human activities drainage obstruction, broken embankments, land use conversion in intensifying flood risk. In conclusion, the paper recommends integrated flood management strategies including river dewatering, embankment strengthening, drainage restoration, floodplain zoning and development of resilient livelihoods. These interventions are crucial for reducing risk and enhancing long term resilience in the flood prone Kaliaghai River Basin. Nirmal Mondal | Sumit Kar | Ilyass Hussain | Abrar Farooq | Prof. Pervez Ahmed "The Impact of Kaliaghai River Flood (2021): A Detailed Study of Socio-Economic and Environmental Consequences in West Bengal" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-6 , December 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd99817.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/geography/99817/the-impact-of-kaliaghai-river-flood-2021-a-detailed-study-of-socioeconomic-and-environmental-consequences-in-west-bengal/nirmal-mondal