Rajasthan is better known for its deserts than downpours.
Yet this June, the state has emerged as India’s wettest region, recording nearly 187% more rainfall than normal. While the unusually wet weather may appear to be a welcome change for a state that frequently struggles with water scarcity, the reality is more complicated.
Too much rain in a short period can create problems of its own, especially in regions that are naturally dry.
WHY IS IT EXCESSIVELY RAINING AND WHY IS IT BAD?
The continuous spell of rain in Rajasthan has not been due to the monsoon, which is yet to arrive in northern regions of the country. What the state is experiencing is the effect of western disturbances, erratic weather shifts caused by climate change, and some of it is even pre-monsoon activity.
But no matter the reason, it is continuing to pour in the region.
It’s a fact that not all rainfall is equally beneficial.
Gentle, steady rain helps replenish soil moisture, reservoirs and groundwater. But when large volumes of water fall over a short period, much of it simply flows away.
In Rajasthan, where many areas are accustomed to dry conditions for most of the year, intense rainfall can overwhelm local drainage systems. Roads can become waterlogged, low-lying neighbourhoods can flood and transportation can be disrupted.
Heavy rain can also affect agriculture. Fields may become inundated, damaging crops and washing away nutrient-rich topsoil that farmers depend on for future harvests.
Then there’s the common assumption that a rainy season automatically solves water shortages. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Rajasthan relies heavily on groundwater stored deep beneath the surface, and these underground reserves take time to recharge. When rain arrives in sudden bursts, much of the water runs off before it can seep into the ground and recharge the depleted aquifers.
This means a region can experience flooding during the monsoon and still face water shortages later in the year.
Long-term water security depends not just on how much rain falls, but also on how effectively that water is stored.
The excessive rain is also impacting the region’s agriculture as the sowing period of the widely consumed kharif crops is disrupted and the crops already sown are at a risk of being damaged.
While regional concerns are something that demand attention, there is also the bigger concern that these rainfall extremes may be pointing to.
Scientists have increasingly observed weather becoming more erratic, with longer dry spells interrupted by short periods of intense rainfall.
For Rajasthan, this shift presents a new challenge.
The state has spent decades learning how to cope with too little rain. Now it must also prepare for the risks that come when large amounts of rain arrive all at once.
– Ends
