The 'Bhabar' region, lying immediately south of the Shiwalik foothills, is characterized by which of the following hydrological features?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Bhabar belt is a narrow zone running parallel to the Shiwalik foothills where streams descending from the mountains deposit heavy loads of coarse pebbles, gravel, and boulders. Due to the high porosity and permeability of these thick alluvial fans, smaller streams percolate underground and disappear from the surface, reappearing further south in the marshy Terai belt. The Terai zone features waterlogged soils and dense forest cover. The Bhabar is generally unsuited for agriculture due to rocky subsoil conditions.