UPSC Editorial Analysis: Monsoon Fury in Northeast India

General Studies-3; Topic: Disaster and disaster management.

Introduction

• The 2025 south-west monsoon has once again exposed the vulnerability of Northeast India to rain-related disasters.
• In its early phase, the monsoon has caused widespread devastation across states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur.
• Torrential rains, swollen rivers, landslides, collapsing infrastructure, and displaced communities highlight the growing humanitarian and ecological crisis.

Geographical and Environmental Vulnerabilities of the Northeast

• Topography and Drainage

• • The Northeast is a mountainous and hilly region interspersed with narrow valleys and major rivers like the Brahmaputra and Barak.
  • Hills with steep gradients accelerate runoff, which overwhelms low-lying floodplains quickly.
  • The Brahmaputra, with over 50 tributaries, is prone to erosion and frequent course shifts, making embankments often ineffective.

• Heavy Rainfall and Monsoon Dependence

• • The region receives 2000–4000 mm of rainfall annually (IMD).
  • Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in Meghalaya are among the world’s wettest places.
  • Intense rainfall in a short span increases flash flood and landslide risk, especially in deforested or unplanned urban areas.

Impact of Climate Change on Rainfall and Disasters

• Erratic Rainfall Patterns

• • According to the State of India’s Climate Report (MoES, 2023), monsoon rainfall variability has increased in the Northeast.
  • Shorter spells of extremely heavy rain are becoming common, overwhelming drainage systems.

• Melting Glaciers and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)

• • In Sikkim, the melting of Himalayan glaciers due to global warming has increased the risk of GLOFs.
  • In October 2023, Sikkim witnessed a flash flood in the Teesta River following a glacial lake burst, killing over 100 people.

• Shifting Flood Zones

• • Traditionally flood-safe areas are now experiencing inundation.
  • For instance, parts of Manipur and upper Arunachal are now reporting annual flood damage for the first time.

Institutional and Infrastructural Gaps

• Failure of Embankments

• • Embankments often breach due to poor maintenance or pressure from increased river discharge.
  • According to CAG reports (2018, Assam), nearly 40% of embankments in Assam were overdue for repair.

• Absence of Integrated River Basin Management

• • Northeast India lacks a unified Brahmaputra River Basin Authority with flood forecasting, zoning, and disaster mitigation powers.

• Urban Flooding Due to Unplanned Growth

• • Cities like Guwahati are prone to urban floods due to construction over wetlands and hill slopes.

• Weak Early Warning Systems

• • Though ISRO and IMD provide satellite-based flood alerts, local-level response mechanisms remain underdeveloped.

Socio-Economic Impact

• Human Displacement

• • Over 3 lakh people displaced across the Northeast this season.
  • Temporary shelters lack basic amenities and security for women and children.

• Infrastructure Loss

• • Roads, bridges, and schools in Sikkim, Manipur, and Assam damaged.
  • Economic loss projected to run into hundreds of crores.

• Agricultural Disruption

• • Paddy fields in Assam and Tripura submerged.
  • Livestock loss and silting of fields reduce productivity, affecting farmer incomes.

Long-Term and Sustainable Solutions

• Integrated Flood Management Plan

• • A Brahmaputra Flood Management Authority is essential with inter-state coordination.
  • River linking, dredging, and controlled diversions during flood peaks must be considered.

• Nature-Based Solutions

• • Restore wetlands (like Deepor Beel in Assam) that naturally absorb floodwater.
  • Afforestation on hill slopes to reduce erosion and landslides.

• Climate Adaptation and Resilient Infrastructure

• • Use climate-resilient materials and designs for roads, embankments, and buildings in high-risk zones.
  • IMD’s district-level forecasting must be integrated with Gram Panchayat-level action plans.

• Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR)

• • Local NGOs and SHGs should be trained in emergency response, first aid, and community shelter management.
  • Japan’s model of disaster drills and resilient schooling systems can be adapted.

Role of Government and Institutions

International Best Practices to Emulate

• Netherlands: Focus on “living with water” — creating floodplains and adaptive architecture.
• Bangladesh: Community-level flood shelters and participatory flood risk maps.
• Japan: Real-time landslide sensors and public alert systems with education drills.

Way Forward

• Declare Flooding as a National Disaster Category for high-impact zones in Northeast.
• Allocate dedicated climate adaptation funds for the region under National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
• Enhance coordination between state governments and central agencies.
• Invest in satellite-based real-time monitoring and AI-powered flood risk modeling.
• Revise town planning laws to integrate climate risk zoning and limit hill-cutting, concretization, and wetland reclamation.

Conclusion

• The ongoing devastation in Northeast India from the early phases of the 2025 monsoon reflects a systemic failure of planning, adaptation, and governance.
• The region needs not just relief measures but a paradigm shift towards sustainable and climate-resilient planning.
• Empowering communities, investing in long-term ecological infrastructure, and adopting global best practices are the keys to safeguarding the region’s people and economy in the face of an increasingly volatile climate.