Journal of Environmental Biology

Drought risk assessment: A pilot study in drought-prone Rarh Tract under semi-arid region of India

B. Ghosh¹, M.D. Gupta², S. Das³, A. Haldar³*, P. Dey³, S. Chatterjee⁴ and P.G.D. Chakrabarti¹     

¹Department of Environment and Disaster Management, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Kolkata- 700 103, India

²Department of Agricultural Extension, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sonamukhi, Bankura- 722 207, India

³Department of Agricultural Extension, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute Kolkata, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Kolkata-700 097, India

⁴Department of Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata, Kolkata- 700 108, India

Received: 05 November 2025                   Revised: 05 February 2026                   Accepted: 27 May 2026

*Corresponding Author Email : vetavijit@gmail.com                 *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0770-3983

Abstract

Aim: Extreme droughts and dry spells are common in the Chota Nagpur Plateau, particularly in the Rarh tract encompassing Bankura and Purulia districts in West Bengal under semi-arid region of India.This study aims to identify and characterize block-wise drought hazard, vulnerability, and risk for effective long-term drought management in the Bankura district.

Methodology: The study employed a micro-scale, indicator-based drought risk assessment integrating three decades of climatic variability (temperature and rainfall, 1992–2022) with key socio-economic indicators (landholding size, SC/ST population share, BPL households, and literacy rate) across ten drought-prone blocks of Bankura district. Hazard, vulnerability and exposure indices were normalized on a 10-point scale and aggregated to generate a composite Drought Risk Index (DRI) for block-wise comparison and prioritization.

Results: The findings indicate pronounced spatial variability in drought risk, with higher risk concentrated in the north-western blocks. Chhatna recorded the highest DRI (6.8) whereas Mejia showed the lowest DRI (5.8), indicating comparatively lower drought risk.

Interpretation: The micro-level ranking of drought-prone blocks provide a valuable framework for developing  targeted, block-wise integrated drought management strategies. This will enhance preparedness, early warning, and mitigation efforts not only in the Rarh tract, but also in similar semi-arid region across India and beyond.

Key words: Chota Nagpur plateau, Drought risk index, Rarh tract, Semi-arid region

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