Disrupted Monsoons Threaten India's Climate Stability
· news
Disrupted Monsoons Force India to Face Climate Threat
The Indian monsoon, a centuries-old phenomenon that has brought life-giving rains to the parched land, is beginning to falter. Over 100 people have lost their lives since late July due to flash floods, landslides, and lightning strikes triggered by intense rainfall. The northeastern state of Assam has borne the brunt, with over 120,000 people affected by flooding.
Scientists warn that the Indian monsoon is entering a new era marked by increasingly erratic and extreme weather patterns. Akshay Deoras, a senior research scientist at the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science, attributes the change to a warmer atmosphere that can hold more moisture, making active spells of intense rainfall more frequent. However, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, a climate scientist and former secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, argues that the characteristics of the Indian monsoon have changed fundamentally.
India’s farmers are particularly hard hit by the disrupted monsoons. Long dry spells disrupt sowing and reduce soil moisture, while intense rain can wash away fields and damage crops. Cities are also struggling as rapid construction leaves less land to absorb water, interfering with natural drainage. The consequences of this are dire: when heavy rain finally arrives, more of it floods rivers and drains instead of replenishing groundwater.
Climate change is redefining the monsoon’s rhythm, creating a perfect storm of disruption and destruction. Ritwick Dutta, an environmental lawyer, argues that India’s decision-making process fails to consider climate change while planning construction projects. “We are, in effect, ‘weaponizing the environment’,” he warns. The Centre for Science and Environment found that extreme weather affected India on 331 of 334 monitored days in 2025, or 99% of the period assessed.
Sunita Narain, director general of the CSE, puts it bluntly: “Climate change is no longer a future threat. It is already here in the form of extreme heat, extreme rainfall, and increasingly destructive weather events.” The challenge now is not to prove the science, but to redesign development strategies that adapt to this new reality.
India’s response to climate change has been woefully inadequate. Adaptation needs to become an integral part of the country’s development strategy, requiring a fundamental shift in how we plan and build infrastructure, taking into account the changing patterns of rainfall and extreme weather events. It also demands a concerted effort to integrate climate resilience into decision-making processes.
The consequences of inaction will be catastrophic – not just for India, but for the entire world. As India navigates this uncharted terrain, one thing is clear: the status quo is no longer an option.
Reader Views
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The Indian monsoon's disruption is a symptom of a broader issue: our addiction to short-term gains over long-term sustainability. While scientists like Akshay Deoras and Madhavan Nair Rajeevan debate the causes, we're missing the elephant in the room - India's infrastructure planning. The Centre for Science and Environment's findings on extreme weather events are just a consequence of prioritizing rapid development over climate-resilient design. It's time to rethink our approach to growth, before the next monsoon deluge becomes too much to bear.
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
The article rightly highlights the devastating impact of disrupted monsoons on India's climate stability. However, it glosses over the critical issue of government accountability in exacerbating these problems through infrastructure development and urban planning. As cities grow unchecked, our water management systems are ill-equipped to handle extreme rainfall events, leaving communities vulnerable to floods and landslides. Until we address the systemic failures that prioritize growth over sustainability, we'll continue to court disaster under the guise of "development".
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The Indian monsoon's disruption is a stark reminder that climate change isn't just about polar bears and rising sea levels – it's also about how our very weather patterns are shifting. The article correctly points out the devastating impact on farmers and cities, but what's often overlooked is the issue of water storage infrastructure. India's ancient systems of canals, dams, and aquifers were built to manage the monsoon's predictable rhythm. Now, with more frequent droughts and deluges, it's time for a modern rethink: how can we store, reuse, and recharge our water resources in this new era of climate variability?