Rain, Rain, Should It Come Again?

Alok k. Shrivastava,Ex- Chief Secretary, Sikkim

According to Internet sources, rainfall is the amount of precipitation in the form of water from clouds that descends onto the Earth's surface, whether on land or water. Rainfall is typically enhanced when an air mass travels over warm water bodies or wetland surfaces.

RAINFALL DATA

Rainfall data refers to the measurement and recording of the amount of precipitation, such as rain or snow, that falls in a specific area over a given period. Access to such data allows one to understand trends, variations, and patterns in precipitation.

TYPES OF RAINFALL

There are usually four types of rainfall: Convectional, Orographic, Cyclonic, and Artificial—the last of which is also known as Cloud Seeding.

CATEGORIES OF RAINFALL

By intensity, rainfall is categorized as follows:

· Average Rain: Below 2.5 mm of rain in a day.

· Light Rain: 2.5 to 7.5 mm of rain in a day.

· Moderate Rain: 7.5 to 36 mm of rain in a day.

· Rather Heavy Rain: 36 to 55 mm of rain in a day.

· Heavy Rain: 65 to 125 mm of rain in a day.

Low rainfall areas are those receiving 50 cm or less of annual precipitation. It is also important to note that drizzle is not considered rain; it is light precipitation in small drops.

PAN-INDIA RAIN SITUATION

The top five rainiest states in India are:

1. Meghalaya – Receives 2,000–4,100 mm of annual rainfall. Mawsynram, located in the East Garo Hills district, receives the highest rainfall in India (11,872 mm or 467.4 inches annually) and is also considered the wettest place on Earth. In 1985, it recorded an all-time high of 26,000 mm (1,000 inches). It is followed by Cherrapunji.

2. Sikkim – Receives 3,737 mm of annual rainfall, with rain occurring almost ten months a year. Mangan district receives the maximum rainfall. Despite heavy rain, roads are better maintained compared to many parts of the NCR.

3. Kerala – The "Green State," welcoming the South West Monsoon, receives 3,000 mm of rain annually. Areas including Kochi are often flooded.

4. Arunachal Pradesh – Receives over 2,000 mm of annual rainfall. Interestingly, landslides and floods are less frequently reported here.

5. West Bengal – Receives heavy rainfall throughout the year, although precise data is limited. Floods are frequent, often spilling over from Bangladesh.

CURRENT RAINFALL SCENARIO (2025)

So far in 2025, there has been over or excess rainfall, extending up to September 2. According to the IMD, the monsoon is likely to continue until mid-September, with the official closing date possibly being extended.

While the current rainfall may not be as extreme as in 2024 in terms of volume, its impact on infrastructure and daily life is significant. Visibility is poor, and deluges in five of the eight Himalayan Union Territories and States have been catastrophic.

ANA BRISTI vs ATI BRISTI

Instead of an "ana-bristi" situation, it seems to have escalated to "ati-bristi." Residents of arid and dry regions may have welcomed temporary relief from fetching water, but schoolchildren, senior citizens, petty businessmen, and office-goers face immense hardships due to flooding and lack of transport.

OVERALL IMPACT

Farmers growing Kharif crops, fruits, and vegetables may benefit, but animals are adversely affected. While some birds, such as pigeons and crows, enjoy the rain, humans and pets require costly measures to replicate such experiences.

WELCOME RELIEF FROM HEAT

On the positive side, urban residents benefit from reduced heat stress, lower water consumption, and some electricity savings during rains. Thank you, God of Rain, Indra Bhagwan.

CONTINUING HAVOC IN HIMALAYAN STATES

In Jammu & Kashmir (Ramban, Kishtwar, Kathua, Jammu, Vaishnav Devi), Himachal Pradesh (Mandi, Chamoli, Manali, Kullu), Uttarakhand (Dharali, Rudraprayag, banks of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal (Kalimpong), and Sikkim (Gangtok & Pakyong), rivers are in spate, causing deaths of nearly one thousand people and injuring over a thousand. In Himachal Pradesh alone, over 300 fatalities have been reported.

Rivers such as Chenab, Sutlej, Beas, Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Ganga, and Teesta are causing havoc, damaging roads, schools, temples, shops, vehicles, fields, and homes. Rampant corruption has led to unsustainable construction near riverbeds.

LINE OF FINISH?

The endpoint of this devastation seems invisible. Popular beliefs attribute it to past sins, but scientific explanations suggest climate change, global warming, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) may be responsible. Iceberg melting in Antarctica and the Arctic supports this view.

TO SUM UP

Has nature taken over as humanity lags? We must take urgent and viable long-term steps to mitigate suffering. Solutions are critical for the overall interest of humanity.