India, Aug. 9 -- A new climatology study finds Maharashtra is facing a sharp rise in compound drought and heatwave events, which now increasingly strike during the monsoon rather than just pre-monsoon.

Since 1990, both frequency and severity have intensified, with western and coastal districts such as Nashik, Thane and Raigad emerging as hotspots, demanding an urgent overhaul of climate adaptation strategies.

Compound Drought and Heatwave (CDHW) events-where bone-dry conditions and scorching temperatures collide-have intensified dramatically over the last three decades, transforming Maharashtra's climate landscape, according to a new study.

The research, published in the International Journal of Climatology, warns that these "double-hi...