India's monsoon has turned wild.
Half of the country is reeling under floods after extraordinary downpours, with Punjab facing its worst deluge since 1988.
Some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan saw rains more than 1,000% above normal in just 24 hours, according to the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD).
Between 28 August and 3 September, rainfall in northwest India was recorded at 180% above average, while southern regions experienced a 73% increase.
More heavy rain is forecast across large parts of the country this week, igniting fears of further destruction.
The rains have caused landslides and floods in several regions, inundating villages and towns, and sadly, resulting in hundreds of fatalities.
Climate change is changing the behaviour of the monsoon. Scientists explain that the increasing warmth has led to a higher moisture availability in the atmosphere, resulting in more intense rain events.
Previously, monsoon rains were steady and spread evenly over the four months - but now, they often fall in extreme volumes in a concentrated area following long dry spells, particularly in mountainous regions prone to cloudbursts.
Experts indicate that the interaction of the monsoon system with westerly disturbances—weather patterns originating in the Mediterranean—has exacerbated rainfall events this season, described as a rare atmospheric phenomenon.
Moreover, increasing instability in mountain regions due to rapid glacial melting adds another layer of risk, as the likelihood of flash floods and landslides grows.
Human activities have also complicated the situation, with infrastructure development disrupting natural water pathways and inadequate maintenance of flood defenses in many areas, forcing communities to face increasing flood risks without proper preparations.
The perfect storm of climate change, unstable geology, and human factors has turned the 2025 Indian monsoon into a catastrophic event, reminding us of the urgent need for adaptive measures in dealing with such extreme weather phenomena.
