US EditionClimate change makes South Asia’s monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains
HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA, JUL 10 – The 2025 monsoon rains caused severe flooding and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, with Mandi district hardest hit and 40 people still missing, officials reported.
- Heavy rains and floods in India during 2024 caused nearly 1,300 deaths, including 85 in Himachal Pradesh from rain-related incidents and road accidents.
- In October 2023, a glacial lake in Sikkim overflowed, leading to floods that resulted in 55 fatalities and caused significant damage to infrastructure, including bridges, buildings, and a hydropower dam under construction.
- Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll noted that South Asia is experiencing a noticeable shift in monsoon patterns, with heavy rainfall events becoming more common and severe, often exceeding the capacity of drainage systems and leading to flash floods.
- Koll highlighted that increasing city growth, reduced floodplain areas, and diminished natural water runoff contribute to worsening flood impacts, while more than 200 glacial lakes face the threat of overflowing.
- Experts emphasize the need for proactive, long-term strategies combining science, policy, and community engagement to reduce future flood risks amid a warming climate.
44 Articles
44 Articles
Impact of temperature shocks on household water poverty in India
Climate change-induced temperature shocks disrupt the natural water balance and consequently intensify households’ water poverty. In this study, we examine the impact of temperature shocks on households’ water poverty in India using household-level data from two rounds of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and climate data from the India Meteorological Department. We find that additional days above 9 °C, especially above 33 °C, significan…
Puppy helps over 60 villagers escape catastrophic landslide: 'Without him, we might not be here'
In the quiet village of Siyathi in Himachal Pradesh, a small dog made an extraordinary difference, according to The Hindu. When devastating cloudbursts unleashed flash floods and landslides across India's Mandi district on the night of June 30, a sleeping puppy became an unlikely hero. By simply listening to his instincts — and letting out a howl that roused the entire neighborhood — this 5-month-old dog, reportedly named Rocky, helped save more…
Climate change makes South Asia's monsoon more prone to floods and landslides
Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country's farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have alre…
Letter to the editor: Why no blame for climate change with recent flash floods?
In response to a cyclone in Pakistan in 1971, Garrett Hardin wrote a letter to Science magazine. He said that the 500,000 people who died lived in a flood plain where, if Pakistan was not over-populated, “no sane person” would choose to live. Although the press blamed the horrific death toll on the storm, Hardin said that, “One thing is certain: we won’t blame the deaths on overpopulation. No one ever dies of overpopulation. It is unthinkable.” …
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