After a relatively dry spell and a delayed monsoon, torrential downpours wreaked havoc in north India, forcing many states to announce closure of educational institutions due to waterlogging and flooding. Many lives have been lost, properties damaged and normal life disrupted. Unfortunately, the frequency of such natural calamities may increase, thanks to climate change that is affecting the intensity and frequency of precipitation across the globe. According to the India Meteorological Department data, the country’s cumulative rainfall in the monsoon season crossed the normal of 239.1 mm in just eight days, bridging the deficit witnessed till June end (148.6 mm). Besides this extreme weather condition, the data also shows a huge variation in precipitation with eastern, northeastern and southern regions still facing a deficiency, while north India has recorded 59 per cent excess rainfall. Such uneven distribution of rainfall and bridging of deficit by sudden downpour in just a few days is a matter of concern as such variation will have a cascading effect on the lives of the people and the country’s economy. The spiraling price of tomatoes, which has soured above INR 100 per kg across the country, is a good case in point to prove that cumulative rainfall may not necessarily guarantee a bountiful harvest. There are many nuances involved like right amount of rain, timing and duration for a good harvest.
Sadly, rainfall pattern will keep changing with climate change. Errant monsoon will continue to affect agriculture sector and increase the frequency of natural calamities. This is evident in the fact that India has been witnessing extreme weather conditions, be it flood, drought, intense rainfall or heat wave at one place or the other. With such phenomenon expected to recur, it is imperative for the authorities to come up with a proactive policy against climate change and its consequences besides providing relief to affected people. Most Indian cities, including Dimapur are not equipped to deal with even a few hours of heavy rainfall as most drains are either not desilted on time or not cleared at all. Compounding the issue, encroachment of natural rainwater sinks, wetlands, and water bodies continues. The concerned authorities should stop these human activities to avoid destruction of properties and loss of lives in future. It is also time to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices like introduction of weather resistant crops, rainwater harvesting and enhancement of irrigation infrastructure. It is necessary to reduce dependency on monsoon rains for farming and take steps to mitigate natural calamities in the face of an ever-changing weather condition. We should be equipped to deal with both rain and shine.