Why do rivers in the Utkal Plains often cause flooding?

Rivers in the Utkal Plains, including the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, and Subarnarekha, are frequently subject to heavy flooding.1

While peninsular rivers in India generally have steep gradients that typically limit flooding, these specific rivers in the Utkal Plains experience significant seasonal variations in flow. The region is characterized by a tropical wet-dry climate, where the vast majority of the state's average annual rainfall—approximately 60 inches (1,500 mm)—occurs during the southwest monsoon season from June through September. This concentrated period of high precipitation leads to increased discharge, which, combined with the deltaic nature of the coastal plains, contributes to the frequent flooding of these river systems.231