Monsoon rains, a yearly phenomenon that brings life-giving water to the region, have once again turned deadly. This year’s deluge has resulted in severe floods, affecting millions across South Asia. Countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan have borne the brunt of this natural calamity, with devastating impacts on lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
The Monsoon Phenomenon
The South Asian monsoon is a complex weather system that affects the Indian subcontinent between June and September. While it is crucial for agriculture, providing much-needed irrigation for crops, the monsoon can also bring excessive rainfall, leading to catastrophic floods. This year, the monsoon rains have been particularly intense, resulting in widespread flooding.
Impact on Lives and Livelihoods
Displacement and Casualties
The flooding has displaced millions of people from their homes, forcing them to seek refuge in temporary shelters. In India alone, states like Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal have reported significant displacement. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to assist in rescue and relief operations. In Bangladesh, the Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers have swollen, submerging vast areas and displacing thousands.
Tragically, these floods have also resulted in numerous casualties. Reports indicate that hundreds have lost their lives across the region due to drowning, landslides, and building collapses. The full extent of the human toll is still being assessed, as many remote areas remain inaccessible.
Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture, the backbone of South Asia’s economy, has been severely affected. Floodwaters have inundated vast tracts of farmland, destroying crops and threatening food security. In Nepal, rice paddies, a staple crop, have been submerged, jeopardizing the livelihood of farmers. The destruction of crops is likely to lead to food shortages and increased prices, further exacerbating the plight of those already struggling.
Infrastructure and Economy
The floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and buildings. In Pakistan, the province of Sindh has seen significant destruction, with entire villages washed away. The economic impact of these floods is enormous, with billions of dollars needed for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts. Governments across the region are grappling with the dual challenge of addressing immediate relief needs while planning for long-term recovery.
Response and Relief Efforts
The response to the floods has been swift, with governments and humanitarian organizations mobilizing resources to provide relief to affected communities. Emergency shelters have been set up, and food, clean water, and medical supplies are being distributed. In India, the NDRF and the armed forces are conducting rescue operations, airlifting stranded individuals to safety.
International aid is also playing a crucial role. Organizations like the Red Cross and UN agencies are providing support in the form of funds, supplies, and technical assistance. The international community’s solidarity and support are vital in ensuring that the affected populations receive the help they need.
Long-Term Solutions and Preparedness
While immediate relief efforts are essential, there is a growing recognition of the need for long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of future floods. Climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including monsoon rains. Governments and policymakers must invest in robust infrastructure, early warning systems, and sustainable land management practices.
Torrential monsoon rains have triggered floods and landslides, affecting millions across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, where at least 100 people have died since the seasonal rains began in May.
On Monday, heavy rains flooded roads and railways in Mumbai, bringing India’s financial capital to a standstill. Flights were disrupted, and schools were closed.
In India’s northeastern state of Assam, at least eight people were killed due to floods and incessant rains over the weekend. State authorities reported that 66 people have died in floods and rain-related incidents since May.
In Nepal, about 50 people have reportedly died in landslides, floods, and lightning strikes since mid-June when the annual monsoon rains started. In Bangladesh, at least eight have died. More than 2.4 million people across 29 districts have been affected, with floodwaters inundating homes and destroying crops in Assam. Around 54,000 people have been moved to relief camps where authorities are supplying food and medicines.
Authorities reported that six of the rare one-horned rhinos in Kaziranga National Park drowned due to the floods.
Assam routinely suffers from annual floods, but in recent years, climate change-induced deluges have caused widespread havoc in the hilly region.
India’s extreme weather patterns have increased in recent years, with intense heatwaves and flooding regularly affecting parts of the country.
On Monday, India’s financial capital Mumbai recorded its highest rainfall spell, with 300mm of rain in six hours, between 1 am and 7 am, according to state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. “It was almost ten per cent of the total rain the city receives in a year,” Mr. Pawar said.
The unprecedented rainfall caused flooding in several parts of the city below sea level. Roads were inundated, halting traffic in the city of 21 million people. Local trains, the backbone of the city, were severely affected, impacting over three million daily commuters. At least 51 flights were cancelled due to low visibility. Television footage showed residents wading through waist-deep waters and cars and buses stuck on waterlogged roads.
India’s official weather agency forecasted heavy rains and a high tide of 4.40 meters in the coastal city on Monday, prompting the closure of schools and colleges as a precaution. Flooding threats also loomed over several parts of India’s eastern state of Bihar due to the Koshi River overflowing from incessant rains in neighboring Nepal.
The Indian state shares a border with Nepal, and every year the mountainous river causes deadly floods in the eastern state. At least 14 people were killed and nine were reported missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods across the Himalayan nation on Sunday, police said. In the capital Kathmandu, several rivers breached their banks, causing floods and inundating houses in the hilly region.
In neighboring Bangladesh, eight people were killed in various rain-related incidents over the weekend. More than two million people have been affected after heavy rain caused major rivers to burst their banks. In Bangladesh’s worst-hit Kurigram district, eight out of nine rural towns have been cut off by floodwaters, local disaster and relief official Abdul Hye told AFP. The country, with a population of 170 million, suffers from annual deluges, but climate change has caused rainfall to become more erratic and has melted glaciers upstream in the Himalayan mountains.
The monsoon rains that bring life to South Asia have once again highlighted the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters. The floods of this year have caused immense suffering and displacement, affecting millions. As relief and recovery efforts continue, it is crucial to focus on building resilience and preparedness to mitigate the impact of future monsoons. The solidarity and support of the global community will play a pivotal role in helping South Asia recover and build back stronger.
