The country’s monsoon season highlights a critical issue: despite improved forecasting accuracy, the nation remains unprepared to manage the challenges brought on by excessive and unpredictable rainfall. While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported an 8% surplus in rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season, regional disparities and the devastating impact of these rains have once again exposed systemic failures in disaster management and infrastructure planning.
The east and northeast regions, despite facing a 14% rainfall deficit, were ravaged by severe floods and landslides, mirroring the catastrophic weather patterns seen in previous years. In particular, the states of Sikkim and North Bengal continue to bear the brunt of the retreating monsoon, with ongoing floods and landslides that have not only disrupted daily life but also caused extensive damage to infrastructure. These areas have become increasingly vulnerable, as erratic rainfall patterns, worsened by climate change, lead to repeated destruction with little respite or effective long-term solutions.
Meanwhile, Central India received 19% more rainfall than average, and the southern peninsular region also experienced significant excess. This uneven distribution of rainfall is not a new phenomenon, but the inability to mitigate its impacts is alarming. Flooding in Bihar and parts of Nepal, exacerbated by breaches in multiple river barrages, has submerged vast stretches of farmland. The kharif crop harvest has been disrupted, further straining India's agricultural sector, which remains heavily dependent on the monsoon.
The IMD's success in predicting the season's overall rainfall surplus is commendable. However, accurate forecasting must be paired with robust preparedness strategies, particularly in flood-prone and ecologically fragile areas. The northeast monsoon, which is expected to bring above-normal rainfall to parts of southern India, is another looming concern. Despite its lesser contribution to India's total annual rainfall, the northeast monsoon can still wreak havoc, especially in urban areas prone to flooding, such as Chennai.
One of the key issues that continue to plague India's disaster management efforts is the reactive nature of its response. Year after year, the country grapples with floods, landslides, and crop losses, but there is little evidence of proactive planning to minimize these impacts. Urban areas, in particular, are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to poor drainage systems, unplanned construction, and the lack of green spaces to absorb excess water. The ongoing debate around climate change adds another layer of complexity, with global models, including predictions around La Niña, struggling to forecast the timing and intensity of weather events.
What India needs is a paradigm shift in how it approaches monsoon preparedness. State disaster management agencies must go beyond piecemeal solutions and adopt comprehensive strategies that incorporate climate models, early warning systems, and infrastructure investment. With the specter of climate change looming larger every year, India must act now to safeguard its people, economy, and environment from the growing menace of the monsoon.