If we do not shift from firefighting to anticipatory governance, the monsoon will keep punishing us for our apathy
As the skies open with relentless fury, the annual monsoon has yet again turned into a harbinger of destruction for vast swathes of the Indian subcontinent. From the rain-lashed hills of the Northeast to the storm-swept coasts of Karnataka, the monsoon of 2025 has begun its havoc with devastating precision. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts in multiple regions, while rising river levels, flash floods, landslides, and loss of lives underscore a grim reality: We remain grossly unprepared, year after year.
The IMD has sounded the alarm with red alerts in six districts of Karnataka — Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, and Chikkamagaluru — predicting intense rainfall over the next three days. The coastal belts have seen fishing bans take effect from June 1, as precautionary measures struggle to match the scale of the threat. In Madikeri, the Cauvery River is approaching critical levels. The Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir in Mandya has seen a sharp 103-foot rise in just one week. Meanwhile, the Western Ghats, temporarily catching a breath from torrential rains, remain enveloped in fog, drawing tourists who may not grasp the dangers looming with every passing cloud. The Northeast bears the brunt of this year’s early monsoon wrath.
So far the northeast region has been worse it, Over 30 people have lost their lives in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. Flash floods, landslides, and collapsed infrastructure have displaced thousands. In Manipur, joint operations by the Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Fire Service have rescued over 1,500 people. In Sikkim, landslides and damaged bridges have left thousands of tourists stranded in Lachen and Lachung.
What is most painful is the lack of unpreparedness. Every year, the same stories unfold: blocked drainage, collapsing roads, under-equipped rescue efforts, and poorly coordinated responses. Despite decades of experience and technological advancements, our disaster management remains largely firefighting rather than fireproofing. Infrastructure collapses under waterlogging, rescue forces scramble after the damage is done, and Governments shift into high gear only after loss of life is reported.
The time for ad-hoc measures and post-flood blame games is over. We need systemic, structural, and sustained action. What we desperately need is urban planning overhaul. Drainage systems, particularly in monsoon-prone cities and rural roads, must be upgraded using climate-resilient models. Encroachments on flood plains must be removed. Timely desilting of rivers and reservoirs, installation of early flood warning systems, and stricter dam discharge protocols are essential. Besides, district-level emergency response teams must be better trained, equipped, and empowered to act swiftly, without waiting for Central directives. What we are witnessing is not just bad luck — it’s the result of a rapidly changing climate. This is not just a weather issue; it’s a governance and survival issue.
