Why lashing rains wreak havoc yearly in India's cities

[ad_1] Nikita Yadav BBC Information, Delhi

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/54b6/live/c375aa60-3f99-11f0-aefb-5bdcf7b5706c.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images People wade through a waterlogged road at Gandhi Market in the Sion area after heavy rain on May 25, 2025 in Mumbai, India." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Heavy rains final month precipitated widespread flooding in Mumbai

"Who's accountable for this mess?"

The query not too long ago echoed throughout India's monetary capital Mumbai as 1000's of residents as soon as once more discovered themselves stranded, soaked and pissed off.

Heavy rains introduced town to a standstill, and this was earlier than the monsoon had even begun in full swing. Roads become rivers, autos broke down mid-commute and low-lying neighbourhoods had been waterlogged inside hours.

Even a newly-built underground metro station couldn't face up to the heavy downpour as images and movies of the station flooded with muddy water went viral.

The pre-monsoon deluge as soon as once more uncovered town's fragile infrastructure and sparked widespread outrage on social media.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Company (BMC), one in all India's richest civic organisations accountable for sustaining Mumbai's infrastructure, initially blamed the issue on garbage clogging the drains and particles from metro building, The Hindustan Instances newspaper reported.

Following criticism, the BMC put in de-watering pumps in flood-prone areas and commenced manually clearing waste from drains to stop additional waterlogging. However for a lot of residents, the motion got here too late.

The disaster is neither new - neither is it distinctive to Mumbai.

From Delhi within the north to Bengaluru within the south, India's largest cities flood each monsoon season. Roads collapse, drains overflow, infrastructure is overwhelmed and visitors grinds to a halt.

Specialists blame speedy unplanned urbanisation, poor infrastructure and years of environmental neglect as the basis causes of this drawback.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0dc0/live/d9950c00-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A Truck is stuck in logged water under the Minto Bridge near Connaught Place after a heavy rain on June 28, 2024 in New Delhi, India." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Delhi's Minto bridge is flooded yearly throughout the monsoon

"The tempo of city growth has far exceeded the evolution of supporting infrastructure, notably in water and drainage techniques," says Dikshu Kukreja, an architect and concrete planner based mostly in Delhi.

"Many cities depend on outdated techniques designed many years in the past. And within the strategy of unchecked growth, pure drainage channels, wetlands and water our bodies that when absorbed extra rainwater have been constructed over or uncared for," he provides.

Specialists say there is not any one-size-fits-all resolution as every metropolis faces distinctive challenges and components comparable to geography, inhabitants and local weather have to be thought-about when designing efficient responses.

India receives 80% of its annual rainfall throughout the monsoon season, which often begins from June and continues till September.

The monsoon is essential for agriculture and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers. They depend on seasonal showers in components of the nation the place correct irrigation channels are absent.

However consultants say local weather change has made erratic climate - comparable to unseasonal rains, flash floods and droughts linked to excessive warmth - a extra common phenomenon, straight affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals.

This 12 months the monsoon arrived per week early in components of southern India, catching authorities unprepared.

"A despair developed over the jap central Arabian Sea which was instrumental in pulling up the monsoon present," says Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of meteorology and local weather change at climate forecasting firm Skymet.

In Delhi, the Minto bridge has turn into a logo of town's annual monsoon chaos. Virtually yearly, after heavy rain, a bus or lorry will get caught below the bridge - a picture that highlights town's battle with city flooding.

This 12 months, Delhi recorded its wettest Might since 1901, with greater than 185mm of rainfall, in line with the Indian climate division.

Many residents reported harm to their property.

Not less than 4 individuals had been killed and dozens extra had been injured in one of many two heavy storms that hit town in Might, in line with media stories.

In the meantime, in Bengaluru, greater than 2,000kms (1,240 miles) from the capital, the issue seems to be totally different however its root trigger is identical.

As soon as recognized for its community of lakes that helped handle extra rainwater, Bengaluru has seen many of those water our bodies encroached upon. Of their place now stand residence complexes, enterprise hubs and roads - leaving town susceptible to flooding.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e4bb/live/7a07aea0-3f76-11f0-a6ce-4370c7538a59.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel rescue residents from a flooded locality following heavy rainfall in Bengaluru on May 19, 2025." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> AFP Residents had been evacuated after heavy rains triggered floods in Bengaluru in Might

"Bengaluru is made up of three main valleys by which water naturally flows. Many of the metropolis's lakes are situated in these valleys," explains Ram Prasad, a lake conservation activist.

These valleys had been initially designated as no-construction zones however through the years, encroachment has taken place and later modifications within the legislation permitted infrastructure initiatives to be constructed within the space, he says.

"Whenever you convert lakes - which historically act as flood buffers - into built-up areas, the water has nowhere to go. So, what we're seeing in Bengaluru immediately is the results of poor city planning."

Mr Prasad factors out that Bengaluru, which sits atop a hill, was by no means meant to flood and the present scenario is completely man-made.

Violations of constructing norms, particularly building that narrows stormwater drains or builds straight over them, have solely made issues worse, he says.

In the meantime, Mumbai faces pure challenges on account of its geography. For instance, many components of Mumbai are low-lying and near the ocean, which makes them extra susceptible to flooding throughout heavy rains and excessive tides.

However consultants say it is human actions which have made issues a lot worse: slicing down mangroves, which usually act like pure obstacles in opposition to floods, and constructing on floodplains the place water is meant to empty.

"The breakdown is systemic - it begins with planning that always would not account for future local weather variabilities, will get exacerbated by poor execution and is compounded by weak enforcement of laws," Mr Kukerja says. "Political will is commonly reactive - responding to disasters slightly than investing in long-term resilience."

This is not only a large metropolis drawback. Smaller cities typically undergo equally, if no more.

Over the weekend, not less than 30 individuals died in India's northeastern states after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides. Tens of 1000's have been affected, with rescue efforts below approach.

So, can something be accomplished to stop this?

"Sure," says Mr Kukreja, however solely whether it is a part of a long-term, co-ordinated technique.

He suggests utilizing mapping and real-time sensors to establish high-risk zones and alert communities. Predictive fashions may assist authorities plan higher responses.

"However know-how alone just isn't a repair, it must be paired with responsive governance and neighborhood involvement," he mentioned.

For India's cities to face up to the rains, they want extra than simply de-watering pumps and fast fixes. They want forward-thinking planning, earlier than the harm is completed.