Sedimentary records of palaeofloods in the bedrock gorges of the Tapi and Narmada rivers, central India

High-magnitude floods are an integral part of the hydrologic systems of the Tapi and Narmada rivers of central India. To establish whether the largest flood in 1970 on Narmada and in 1968 on Tapi had precedence in the geological records, geomorphic studies were undertaken. The main type of palaeoflood evidence is slackwater deposits in bedrock gorges. We have been able to assemble a 2000-year chronology of large floods on Narmada and a < 500-year chronology of floods on Tapi. Evidences of a large late Pleistocene flood on Narmada and early Holocene floods on Tapi have also been identified. Palaeoflood analysis indicates noteworthy clustering of flood events and a discernable link between palaeofloods and Holocene climatic changes.