Latest News

How India's capital went from extreme heat to heavy floods

New Delhi, which sustained among its worst heatwaves in history earlier this month, has now faced the greatest downpour in years, with rains over a. 24hour duration going beyond the city's average for the entire. month of June.

The rainstorm caused a deadly airport roofing collapse, interfered with. flights, closed a city station, obstructed underpasses, and caused. huge traffic jams.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Delhi's main Safdarjung weather condition station tape-recorded 228.1 mm (9. inches) of rainfall in the 24 hr ending 8:30 a.m. (0300 GMT),. its greatest 24-hour rains in June in 88 years, according to. the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Areas around Delhi airport had 148.5 mm (5.85 inches) of. rain over a three-hour period on Friday, compared to 101.7 mm. ( 4 inches) for all of June last year.

The seasonal monsoon rain, which slowly covers the country. starting from its southern idea at the end of May, brought. break from heatwave conditions that had actually continued Delhi. until recently.

Temperatures this summertime have actually neared 50 degrees Celsius. ( 122 Fahrenheit) in the city and Delhi has actually recorded at least 40. consecutive days of temperature levels at or above 40 C (104 F) up to. June 22, according to IMD information.

An IMD authorities, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated. the progress of the monsoon was stalled for a week, which led to. lower rainfall and heatwaves in northern India, but abrupt. thunderstorms last week in the area pushed the monsoon clouds. back on track.

He said this would help the monsoon cover the whole country. on time or even a couple of days ahead of the typical schedule.

WHY THE EXTREMES?

For each degree increase in earth's temperature level, the amount. of water vapour in the environment can increase by about 7%,. according to a NASA article in 2022. Specialists say that can lead. to heavy rains in a short period of time.

Since of environment change, you will get more severe rain. occasions, which indicates more rain in a less number of rainy days,. rainy hours, Sunita Narain, director general of Indian research study. body Centre for Science and Environment, stated in a video post on. social media this week.

If you look at the information from across India, you will discover. that lots of weather stations are already reporting that they are. climaxing of 24-hour rains, which means that a. city, a region, can get its yearly rain, as much as a whole. year's rain, in a matter of a couple of days or perhaps one day.

DEALING WITH ERRATIC MONSOONS

Delhi has endured unpredictable monsoon patterns over the last 40. years, dealing with both deficient and excessive rains, stated. Vishwas Chitale, at the Indian think tank Council on Energy,. Environment and Water.

Such manipulated distribution of rains impacts. infrastructure and people severely, which re-emphasises the. value of environment proofing infrastructure and the economy,. he stated.

Professionals say India requires to dig more lakes and ponds to shop. heavy rainfalls and avoid massive water lacks in greatly. inhabited cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. Municipalities need. to make sure drains pipes and canals are un-clogged to prevent heavy. flooding and major disruptions.

The nation also requires to significantly increase its green. cover and raise public awareness about the effects of heat,. stagger work hours and alter schoolday timings, the experts. say.

(source: Reuters)