All About Barak River

• The basin covers parts of India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. In India it spreads over states of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland having an area of 41,723 Sq.km which is nearly 1.38% of the total geographical area of the country. 

• The Drainage area (sq. km) Meghalaya (10650 Sq Km), Manipur (9567 Sq Km), Mizoram (8866 Sq Km), Assam (7224 Sq Km), Tripura( 4688 Sq Km) and Nagaland (728 Sq Km).

• The basin extends between 89°50’ to 94°0’ east longitudes and 22°44’ to 25°58’ north latitudes with maximum length and width of 460 km and 350 km. 

• It is bounded by the Barail range separating it from the Brahmaputra basin on the north, by the Naga and Lushai hills on the east and by Mizo hills and territory of Bangladesh on the south and west. 

• The Barak River rises from the Manipur hills, south of Mao in Senapati district of Manipur at an elevation of 2,331 m. 

• It flows then along Nagaland-Manipur border through hilly terrains and enters Assam.

• It further enters Bangladesh where it is known by the name of the Surma and the Kushiyara and later called the Meghna before receiving the combined flow of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.

• The length of the Barak River from its origin upto the border of Assam along the Kushiyara is 564 km. 

• The principal tributaries of Barak joining from north bank are the Jiri, the Chiri, the Modhura, the Jatinga, the Harang, the Kalain and the Gumra.

• Dhaleswari, the Singla, the Longai, the Sonai and the Katakhal joins from south bank. 

• The Katakhal, Jiri, Chiri, Modhura, Longai, Sonai, Rukni and Singla are the main tributaries of the valley in Assam.

• The major part of basin is covered with forest accounting to 72.58% of the total area and only 1.92% of the basin is covered by water bodies. 

• Imphal and Agartala are the two important urban centres in the sub-basin. Silchar and Aizawal are other important towns. There are no industries worth mentioning in this sub-basin.