Abstract ID: 3.12469 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Drought is an emerging environmental concern in Himalayan regions, driven by climate variability, changing rainfall patterns and anthropogenic impacts such as deforestation and land use change. Despite the region’s dependence on glacial, springs and monsoonal water sources, water scarcity is increasingly affecting agriculture, livelihoods and ecosystems. This study employs remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) along the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to develop a multi-criteria drought risk assessment map. Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil Moisture Index (SMI), Land Use Land Cover (LULC) maps and historical climate data are incorporated to enhance the spatial and temporal understanding of Drought dynamics. The final drought risk maps are prepared through AHP based weighted analysis provide spatial insights into high-risk areas, assisting policymakers and water resource managers in developing adaptive strategies for drought mitigation. This research paper underlines the importance of integrating scientific methods with community-based water resource management to enhance resilience against drought in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.