Every monsoon the cities of India turn into lakes as common people suffer; little is done to find a permanent solution to deal with monsoon rains
This is yet another monsoon season when everybody is cursing the rains, giving little thought to the fact that it is not nature but ourselves to be blamed for our miseries. We lament the rains in rainy season and as soon as monsoon retreat we forget about it. From Delhi to Mumbai, Chennai to Jaipur, the monsoon brings a recurring nightmare of waterlogging, floods, and disease outbreaks.
This year, however, the situation has reached alarming levels. In the capital, the Yamuna has surged past danger levels, displacing over 10,000 people from low-lying areas. The river was recorded at 206.4 metres this week, with forecasts warning it could breach 207 metres. Instead of long-term solutions, Delhi continues to rely on last-minute evacuations and temporary shelters.
In Mumbai, the monsoon is synonymous with chaos. Despite crores being spent on stormwater drainage upgrades after the devastating 2005 deluge, the city still drowns with every heavy downpour. Roads cave in, trains slow down to a crawl, and flights are delayed. Experts blame rampant construction, shrinking wetlands, and inadequate drainage. The Mithi River, once a natural buffer against flooding, has been choked by garbage and encroachments.
One of the most striking ironies of this monsoon is Jaipur, a city better known for its arid climate, facing widespread flooding. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed its fragile drainage infrastructure, turning its heritage streets into streams. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, making desert cities vulnerable to floods they were never designed to withstand. This year, torrential rains once again submerged vast swathes of Chennai. The infamous 2015 floods, which killed hundreds and displaced thousands, were attributed to poor urban planning and blocked waterways. A decade later, little has changed. The common thread linking Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, and other cities is not just excessive rain but poor planning. Encroachments on riverbanks, destruction of wetlands, outdated drainage systems, and unregulated construction have turned natural rain into unnatural disasters. Relief camps, evacuations, and emergency advisories dominate the response, while long-term solutions gather dust in government files. To prevent the Great Indian Deluge from becoming an annual tragedy, India must rethink its urban planning and flood management strategies. Rivers, wetlands, and floodplains must be protected and rejuvenated. These natural sponges absorb excess rainwater and mitigate flooding.
Indian cities rely on colonial-era drainage designs that are hopelessly outdated. Stormwater drains need expansion, desilting, and integration with modern urban infrastructure. Construction on floodplains and wetlands must be strictly banned. If Indian cities are to survive the next century, resilience must replace complacency.
