51 Indian districts at Very High risk for floods, droughts: IIT Report

NEW DELHI: In a significant step towards addressing climate change challenges Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati in collaboration with IIT Mandi and the Centre for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), Bengaluru has released the report “District-Level Climate Risk Assessment for India: Mapping Flood and Drought Risks Using IPCC Framework.” This comprehensive report highlights the critical flood and drought risks faced by various districts across India.

The study identifies that 51 districts in India are at “Very High” flood risk with an additional 118 districts categorized as “High” flood risk. The most vulnerable regions include Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. The report also highlights that ninety-one districts face a “Very High” drought risk while 188 districts are identified as having a “High” drought risk, affecting states like Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

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Alarmingly, 11 districts which includes Patna (Bihar), Alappuzha (Kerala), and Kendrapara (Odisha) are at “Very High” risk for both floods and droughts which necessitate immediate interventions to mitigate the risks and protect the affected populations.

The report was launched by Dr. Anita Gupta, Head of Scientific Divisions, Department of Science and Technology (DST); Pierre-Yves Pitteloud, Senior Regional Advisor for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Dr. Susheela Negi, Scientist-F at DST; and Dr. Swati Jain, Scientist-E at DST, in the virtual presence of Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, and Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi.

Key researchers contributing to the report include Prof. Ravindranath from IISc Bangalore, Dr. Indu K. Murthy from CSTEP, Bengaluru, Dr. Shyamasree Dasgupta from IIT Mandi, and Dr. Anamika Baruah from IIT Guwahati.

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This groundbreaking climate risk assessment report has flagged serious concerns over the vulnerability of several Indian districts which emphasize the need for immediate intervention. The detailed report outlines the critical challenges faced by India’s agrarian society amidst changing climate conditions.

The report calls for robust adaptation strategies to achieve a greener, climate-resilient future for India. By providing valuable insights into the flood and drought risks, the report aims to pave the way for informed decision-making and proactive measures to safeguard India’s vulnerable regions.