Southern India Records Sharpest Rise in Drought: Study
• A 52-year analysis of climate extremes by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) has identified southern India as the region with the sharpest increase in drought conditions.
• The study, published in the International Journal of Climatology, found that the area affected by drought in southern and eastern coastal states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, increased by 20% to 30% during 2011–2021 compared to the 1980s.
Impact & Risks
The increasing frequency and severity of droughts in southern India pose significant risks to agriculture, water resources, and public health. Andhra Pradesh, in particular, has emerged as a drought hotspot, with more than 40% of the region affected by drought in several years since the 2000s. These conditions could exacerbate water scarcity and disrupt livelihoods in the region.
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