A recent study reveals that northern India has lost approximately 450 cubic kilometres of groundwater between 2002 and 2021, with climate change expected to worsen this depletion. Lead author Vimal Mishra, Vikram Sarabhai Chair Professor of Civil Engineering and Earth Sciences at IIT Gandhinagar, emphasized that this loss is equivalent to 37 times the capacity of India’s largest reservoir, the Indira Sagar dam.

Researchers utilized on-site observations, satellite data, and models to reach these findings. They noted an 8.5% reduction in monsoon season rainfall across northern India from 1951 to 2021, alongside a 0.3-degree Celsius increase in winter temperatures over the same period.

The study underscores the urgent need for sustainable water management practices and adaptive measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on groundwater resources in the region.