This paper in Current Science attempts to establish a missing stream link between the Markanda river and the Vedic Saraswati river in the plains of northern Haryana based on geoelectrical resistivity surveys. Resistivity surveys in the Gangetic Plains around Pehowa region in Haryana, have revealed different subsurface geological formations composed of fine, medium and coarse sand with gravel. Resistivity section between the lower part of the Markanda basin and the Saraswati river around Pehowa region indicates the presence of buried sand bodies connecting the two rivers.

These buried sand bodies are –

• An aquifer horizon composed of coarse sand with gravel having resistivity of 40–184 Ωm found at the depth between 10 and 100 m. This layer has an average thickness of about 90 m and has lateral extension of about 12 km in the NE–SW direction (Lotni to Sarusti Khera).
• Another aquifer horizon which connects the two river systems has been identified as fine sand. This aquifer horizon has low resistivity of 23–34 Ωm, and has been observed at a depth between 45 and 148 m.

Based on the distribution of these aquifer horizons, it appears that the lower course of the Markanda river is hydraulically connected with the palaeochannel of the Saraswati river. The transverse resistance values of these buried channels are 7392–7585 Ωm2 for coarse sand with gravel, and 384–2856 Ωm2 for fine sand, indicating good groundwater prospect. These sand bodies are extended laterally for a distance of about 12 km in the northeast to southwest direction connecting the Markanda river and the Vedic Saraswati river.

The age of these buried sand bodies belongs to the Late Harappan period, as evident from different archaeological sites found in and around the survey area. Thus, the present study reveals that once the Markanda basin was a part of the Vedic Saraswati river system, and one of the headwaters of the once celebrated Vedic Saraswati river can be identified as the present Markanda river. 

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