2,567 wards in Kerala identified as drought-hit

A total of 2,567 out of 21,472 wards in Kerala have been identified as the most drought-affected, with Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram districts topping the list, according to a recent study.

The report, based on a comprehensive survey across wards and panchayats, found that 24.74% of wards in Kasaragod and 22.01% in Thiruvananthapuram are facing severe water stress.

The survey was jointly conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), the Kerala Forest Research Institute, and the Institute of Climate Change Studies under the project titled ‘Identification of Water Stress Hotspots in Kerala’, and was funded by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. The study covered all districts in 2024, except Palakkad. The report will serve as one of the baselines for future water stress assessments in the State, scientists said.