File photo of floods in Daund taluka of Pune district.
The frequency of floods surged significantly in the last two decades, it was found. Between 1970 and 2004, three extreme flood events occurred per year on an average, but after 2005, the yearly average rose to 11. The annual average for districts affected until 2005 was 19, but after 2005, on average 55 districts were affected by floods each year.
In 2019, India witnessed 16 extreme flood events, which affected 151 districts. The study found that over 9.7 crore people are currently exposed to extreme floods in India.
Six of India’s eight most flood-prone districts in the last decade Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Golaghat, Sivasagar are in Assam.
Over 75% districts hotspots of extreme weather events, finds study
In 2019, India witnessed 16 extreme flood events, which affected 151 districts. The study found that over 9.7 crore people are currently exposed to extreme floods in India. December 11, 2020 8:00:30 am
Over 75 per cent districts in India, home to more than 63.8 crore people, are hotspots of extreme climate events such as cyclones, floods, droughts, heat and cold waves, according to a study released on Thursday by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
This is the first time that extreme weather event hotspots in the country have been mapped.
The frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of these extreme events have risen in recent decades – while India witnessed 250 extreme climate events in 35 years between 1970 and 2005, it recorded 310 such weather events in only 15 years since then, the study has pointed out.