Downpour Creates Misery in the Capital City of India

By: Vaishali S.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, 228.1 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, the Delhi’s primary weather station, 192.8 mm at Lodhi Road, Mausam Bhavan, 150.4 mm at Ridge, 106.6 mm at Palam, and 66.3 mm at Ayanagar within span of 20-30 hours during the last heavy downpour during the month of July,2024

An area in central Delhi, renowned for producing numerous civil servants through the esteemed UPSC Civil Services exam, has once again made headlines. Unfortunately, this time the spotlight is on a tragic incident: three aspiring civil servants lost their lives when rainwater flooded their study hall. This incident underscores the recurring challenges and hardships brought by the monsoon season in metro cities like Delhi. The tragedy calls attention to the broader issues of infrastructure and safety during heavy rains, which often disrupt daily life and pose serious risks. The national capital is undergoing one of the world’s fastest urban expansions, with little regard for the land’s natural topography and drainage capacity. This has left Delhi vulnerable to flooding during spells of intense rainfall. As the city has expanded, there hasn't been sufficient consideration given to the area's drainage capacity. Consequently, during periods of heavy rainfall, there is a significant runoff—a situation where water flows over the land surface because the ground cannot absorb it. The existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate to handle this excess water. Much of the runoff is directed into concrete drains, which have largely been repurposed as sewage channels. This combination of insufficient drainage capacity and improper use of drains exacerbates the flooding problem, leading to significant disruptions during the monsoon season.  

When examining the annual rainfall patterns in India, it becomes evident that there is not a significant variation from year to year. The country's monsoon season generally brings a consistent amount of precipitation, with occasional fluctuations due to climatic factors.

There has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events but not the annual rainfall as such. This trend contributes to a higher risk of flooding which is being observed in metro cities. 

Among India's major metro cities, a significant difference in annual rainfall is evident between Delhi and Mumbai. Both cities experience extreme weather events, often exacerbated by rapid urbanization. However, Mumbai's coastal location and proximity to the Arabian Sea enables it to manage heavy rainfall more effectively. The city's geographical layout, characterized by numerous small hills and an extensive coastline, facilitates the quick dispersal of water, reducing the likelihood of prolonged flooding.

Delhi does not even receive half the rainfall as compared to Mumbai. However, the problem is that over 50 percent of the city of Delhi is unplanned which emerges as the biggest challenge during monsoon. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment highlights that the Yamuna floodplain once contained over 600 wetlands and water bodies. However, "more than 60 percent of them are now dry," increasing the city's flood risk. Additionally, the report points out that "the river-fed water bodies in the Yamuna floodplain are disconnected from the river due to embankments," further complicating water management and exacerbating flooding issues. 

The unchecked and poorly planned urban expansion in Delhi has significantly contributed to its flooding problems. According to data from NASA's Earth Observatory, Delhi's geographic area nearly doubled between 1991 and 2011. This expansion has encroached on natural water channels and the Yamuna floodplains, exacerbating flood risks. The monsoon this year is giving up challenges to the infrastructure. A single day of rainfall measuring 107.6 mm, exceeded the total precipitation during the entire month of August over the last two years. The IARI metrological system says that Delhi has already received 618.9 mm of rainfall till date for the year 2024. It's high time to consider this as a wakeup call and work upon immediate and long-term measures to deal with the perennial problem of flooding during monsoons.