Ganga’s worst dry spell in 1,300 years: study findings
Why in the news
Studies show the Ganga’s flow has fallen to an unprecedented low since the 1990s.
About the Ganga
- Rises at Gangotri Glacier, Uttarakhand; about 2,525 km long.
- Basin: about 1,08,000 sq km in India; 252,000 sq km with Nepal and Bangladesh.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Method | Tree-ring streamflow reconstruction (Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas) and hydrological models |
| Result | Recent drying about 76% more intense than the 16th-century drought |
| Causes | Weaker monsoons from Indian Ocean warming and aerosols; groundwater loss; land-use change and higher water use |
| Implications | Water security risk across India, Nepal, Bangladesh; farm livelihoods hit; climate models miss regional drying |
Way forward
- Adaptive water policies, stronger river basin management, better forecasting models.