Tamil Nadu among pronounced drought hotspots as South Peninsular India sees strongest drought trend: study

Tamil Nadu has emerged as one of India's most pronounced drought hotspots, according to a new 52-year analysis conducted by researchers. The study, titled 'Evolution of Climate Extremes Over the Indian Subcontinent Using a Revised CEI,' revealed that South Peninsular India, comprising states like Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, experienced the strongest long-term increase in drought-affected areas among the country's four major climatic regions.

The analysis, published in the International Journal of Climatology, examined daily rainfall and temperature data from 1971 to 2022, employing a revised India Climate Extremes Index (IndCEI) that incorporated seven indicators, including heat, drought, dry spells, and heavy rainfall. The research found that drought-affected areas in South Peninsular India had a strong positive trend, with more than 40% of the region affected by drought during several years after the 2000s.

Tamil Nadu, along with Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, saw a 20% to 30% increase in drought-affected areas between 2011 and 2021 compared to the 1980s. The researchers noted that the intensification of drought conditions could be attributed to rising temperatures, urbanization, and broader climate change impacts. The study also highlighted the growing heat burden over southern India, with a significant increase in high maximum-temperature extremes since the 2010s.

The findings emphasize the urgent need for region-specific adaptation measures, particularly in drought resilience, across agriculture, water management, health, and infrastructure sectors.