El Niño alert: Tamil Nadu forms expert committee to prepare for extreme weather

With forecasts pointing to the possibility of a strong El Niño weather phenomenon later this year, the Tamil Nadu government has set up an expert advisory committee to assess potential climate risks and help the state prepare for extreme weather events.

The committee, constituted by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department through a Government Order issued on July 28, will provide scientific guidance on preparedness measures aimed at reducing the impact of weather-related disasters across Tamil Nadu.

The expert panel will function during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years and will closely track evolving climatic conditions linked to El Niño.

Focus on rainfall, drought and vulnerable regions

One of the committee's key responsibilities will be to study how El Niño could affect Tamil Nadu's rainfall patterns, drought conditions and other climate-related risks. It will identify vulnerable regions, monitor rainfall trends and drought scenarios, and recommend precautionary measures based on scientific assessments.

The panel will also support the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency by suggesting ways to strengthen early warning systems and improve the state's preparedness for weather-related emergencies.

In addition, it has been tasked with recommending drought and flood mitigation strategies for districts that may face a higher risk of climate-related disruptions, helping government departments respond more effectively if conditions worsen.

Experts from climate science and disaster management

The committee will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration and includes specialists from climate science, hydrology, disaster management, environmental planning and urban resilience.

Members include S. Kanmani, Head of the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management at Anna University; Prof. Balaji Narasimhan of the Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering Laboratory, IIT Madras; M. Arivudai Nambi Appadurai, Director of Climate Resilience Practice at WRI India and a member of the Tamil Nadu Governing Council on Climate Change; Ramesh Ramachandran, Advisor to the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company; R. Venkatesan, Expert Member of the State Environment Appraisal Committee; J.K. Patterson Edward, Director of the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Thoothukudi; and R. Pradeep John, Senior Manager at Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited.

The formation of the committee signals the state's effort to rely on scientific expertise as it prepares for the possible effects of a strong El Niño event, which could bring uneven rainfall, prolonged dry spells, drought conditions or flooding in vulnerable parts of Tamil Nadu.

With IANS inputs