Environment, Health & Science · India
Volcanoes, El Niño and colonial policies fuelled two deadly famines in India
Published
Two volcanic eruptions — one in Japan, and the other in Nicaragua — spewed sulfur aerosols into the atmosphere in the 1830s. This in turn accelerated cooling and a monsoon failure that triggered droughts across British-administered Agra and Madras, according to a new study. But while the volcanic eruptions triggered drought, it was decades of
Why it matters
The findings connect environmental or health evidence with decisions that affect communities and ecosystems. Independent data, long-term monitoring and transparent methods will be important for judging the scale of the risk and the response.
Evidence assessment
The account is based on reporting by Mongabay India. Official claims, allegations and projections remain attributed, and no additional independent corroboration is available in the reporting reviewed.
Medium confidence — The report identifies the event, institution and timing, but the central account is supported by one source desk and underlying records were not independently reviewed.
Coverage assessment
Underreported across 1 source desk.
The event appears in one public-interest or regional report despite broader relevance.