Which Indian state is ranked as the most flood-prone, with an estimated 7.34 million hectares of land liable to flooding?

The correct answer is - Uttar Pradesh Key Points According to national flood vulnerability statistics, Uttar Pradesh holds the highest risk in terms of land area, with 7.34 million hectares being flood-prone. The state's vulnerability is largely due to its geography within the Indo-Gangetic Plain , where major rivers like the Ganges, Yamuna, and Ghaghara carry massive volumes of water and sediment from the Himalayas. Following Uttar Pradesh, Bihar is the second most vulnerable state (4.26 million hectares), followed by Punjab (3.70 million hectares) and Rajasthan (3.26 million hectares). Flood causes in these regions vary from excessive monsoon rainfall and cloudbursts to the melting of Himalayan snow and the breach of embankments. Additional Information While Assam is frequently in the news for devastating floods, it ranks lower in total hectares (3.15 million) compared to the vast plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In coastal states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha , flooding is often exacerbated by storm surges during cyclonic events, which push seawater inland. The National Flood Commission (Rashtriya Barh Ayog) is the primary body responsible for assessing flood-prone areas and recommending mitigation strategies like drainage improvement and afforestation.