Flood vulnerability assessment of Siddheswari River basin, Eastern India: a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making approach

The principal objective is to assess the flood vulnerability of the Siddheswari river basin using a multi-criteria decision-making approach with the aid of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). In this present study flood vulnerability of the Siddheswarri river basin has been analyzed based on 16 parameters and a flood vulnerability map has been prepared following GIS based multi-criteria decision-making approach, and to prepare a final flood vulnerable map combination of all raster dataset has been completed under GIS environment through Weighted Linear Combination. The result shows that extremely vulnerable areas are mainly located in the lower and middle catchment with 310.89 sq. km (35.58%) area coverage characterized by relatively lower values of elevation, relative relief, ruggedness number, drainage distance from river course, Constance of channel maintenance, drainage intensity, length of overland flow, slope, and higher flow accumulation, drainage density, drainage frequency, drainage texture, infiltration number, stream junction frequency, annual rainfall. The less vulnerable areas occupying 33.00 sq. km (3.78%) are characterized by interfluves and high elevation class with low drainage density, drainage frequency, etc. The remaining areas are under intermediate flood vulnerability classes. The current study may aid planners and government in determining the current state of the region and may offer a conceptual framework for areas that they should focus on additional when formulating and implementing their flood mitigation and management-related plans. The study has some limitations regarding the availability of appropriate current data for the topic under investigation.