1. Introduction
Floods are globally notorious for causing extensive damages by inundating farms, settlements, croplands, villages etc. and anything that comes in its way. As far as the causes of flooding are concerned, they are varied like flow rate exceeding the channel capacity for a water body, faults in dams triggered by earthquake or otherwise, rivers overflowing their banks, storm surges in coastal areas associated with tropical cyclones, tsunamis or high tides. Human causalities, losses to property and business, displaced cattle, submerged farmlands, comprehensive damage to livelihoods of those who survived, coupled with the irreversible mutilation of flora and fauna is all that remains after such an episode. So it is not coincidental that a lot many studies have focused in studying this phenomenon that happens to be one of the most widespread disasters in the world. The studies have focused on forecasting, assessment and management of floods taking into account a number of complex geological, geomorphological and hydrological conditions. However for such endeavors to be successful there is an ardent need for assessment of areas that are susceptible to floods. This is where flood susceptibility mapping steps in to bridge the research gaps. Global climate changes causing drastic weather patterns, global warming, extreme rainfalls, and rapid snow melting leading to various rivers breaching their danger levels have all the more added to an urgency of strong measures to be taken. The aim of the flood susceptibility assessment is to generate a clear demarcation of areas as per their susceptibilities (likelihood for floods) that would augment the government's efforts for better vigil and control of any future floods. It would also be beneficial in preparing a contingency plan and for associated disaster management activities.