India, Feb. 11 -- A new study by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has flagged a fundamental shift in the behaviour of Western Disturbances (WDs)-a key weather system driving rainfall and snowfall in the Himalayan region-raising concerns over climate resilience, disaster preparedness and water security in northern India, the institute said in a statement on Wednesday.

The study, published in the International Journal of Climatology, reveals that western disturbances are no longer confined mainly to the winter season and are now becoming increasingly active during the pre-monsoon months (March to May).

This shift, the study warns, significantly increases the risks of flash floods, landslides and extreme rainfall events in ...