Sunday, Aug 24, 2025 13:15 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Aug 24, 2025 07:39 [IST]
For the past three months, much of the country has been reeling under the havoc of incessant rain. Most towns and villages are recording above-average downpours. Hill rivers are in spate, and Glacier Lake Outbursts are becoming alarmingly frequent. The sheer outpouring of water is posing challenges rarely faced before. People across nine Himalayan states, barring Arunachal Pradesh, continue to bear the brunt.
As noted earlier, our vast nation of 145 crores is blessed with varied climates, shaped by its diverse terrain. Monsoon season brings the highest rainfall. In July alone, India received 294.3 mm of rain, 4.9% above normal. Delhi too recorded 259.2 mm—24% higher than the long-period average. With this trend likely to intensify, the total for August could reach nearly 300 mm.
According to the IMD, most regions experienced normal to above-normal rainfall, barring a few pockets. While such rains benefit Kharif crops, they also cause highway closures, disruptions to train and air travel, power and water shortages, loss of livelihood, and widespread slowdowns in daily life.
Some regions, such as Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, receive heavy rainfall, while places like Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and districts of Karnataka such as Bagalkot, Chitradurga and Koppal, remain dry. Mawsynram in Meghalaya, with an annual average of 11,872 mm (467.4 inches), is the wettest place on Earth, followed closely by Cherrapunji. Yet in terms of rainy days, Hilo in Hawaii tops the list with 211 days, followed by Londonderry in Northern Ireland with 147.
Stakeholders of the Monsoon
The Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Himalayas remain the principal drivers of India’s monsoon. The South-West Monsoon, which usually reaches Kerala by June 1, has been arriving earlier in recent years. Similarly, its retreat has been extending beyond the usual schedule since 2023. The retreating and winter monsoons, though secondary, benefit mainly the southern states.
Current Spell
This year, the monsoon has created a patchwork of extremes. While the north, east and central regions have seen heavy flooding, other parts are still receiving scattered or delayed rains. Floods in places like Srinagar, Jaisalmer, Dwarka, Junagadh and Porbandar—once unimaginable—have now become reality.
Animals Are Crucial to Our Survival
When calamity strikes, administrative focus naturally falls on saving human lives, property and vehicles. Yet, we often neglect animals, who are equally vulnerable. Videos of people rushing to save humans from raging waters abound, but how often do we see such concern for animals? Sadly, human instinct during disasters is more about material gain than compassion.
Animals as Advance Warning Systems
Communities like the Jarwas of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands display unusual behaviour before disasters, but so do animals. Stray dogs can sense landslides or earthquakes before they strike. Unfortunately, these very animals are increasingly being pushed out of our neighbourhoods without food or shelter.
Lion and Crocodile Sightings in Gujarat
On August 20, a lion was spotted struggling against floodwaters in Gujarat. Instead of helping, bystanders chose to film it. Earlier, a crocodile was seen crawling across a road in Baroda before forest officials rescued it. Such incidents underline our apathy toward distressed animals.
Elephants of Dehradun, Kerala, North Bengal & Kaziranga
Elephants are frequently seen crossing highways near Dehradun or railway lines in Assam and North Bengal, leading to tragic casualties. Dedicated animal crossings are now being planned along expressways, but much more is needed.
In Kaziranga, rhinos, tigers, elephants and wild bison flee the sanctuary every year during floods. Yet neither the state nor the Centre seems committed to long-term solutions. The result: needless animal deaths, loss of tourism revenue and threats to local livelihoods.
The So-Called ‘Menace’ of Elephants
Media often labels elephants a “menace.” But whether lion, crocodile, leopard, monkey or elephant, when they enter our settlements—especially during calamities—they are exercising their right of way. It is humans, not animals, who have encroached upon their habitats for years.
Instead of suppressing animals, we must honour the principle of coexistence. When animals are displaced by floods or landslides, they deserve care and temporary shelter until safe habitats or enclosures are available. Waiting for distress signals is too late.
To Conclude
Animals have rights—in normal times and in disasters. Mega projects and reckless development often encroach upon these rights, just as natural calamities devastate flora. A renewed commitment to coexistence is essential. Only then can we move toward genuine sustainable development.
