From Wayanad landslides to Delhi heatwaves, how extreme weather is bringing devastation to India

From the heatwaves in Delhi to rivers overflowing in Assam, India has fallen prey to extreme weather lately. With the landslides in Kerala claiming nearly 100 lives and wreaking havoc in the district, let’s look back at some of the worst natural calamities to have hit the country
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Homes plundered, roads destroyed, massive-scale destruction and rescue workers in full action.

These were the scenes in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday (July 30) after landslides hit the region.

Authorities have confirmed that nearly 100 people are dead  while more than 128 are injured.

Already, experts are pointing the finger for the landslides at climate change – which is seemingly making headlines around the world every month.

From the heatwaves in Delhi to rivers overflowing in Assam, India too has fallen prey to extreme weather lately.

Let us take a look at some natural calamities to have hit the country lately

Delhi rains and heatwave

Just a few days ago, on July 27, torrential rains flooded a basement leading to the death of three students in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar area.

In June, heavy rains caused floods in the capital followed by weeks of extreme heat.

Mumbai in July faced heavy rain and massive flooding, while thunderstorms in May caused a billboard to collapse in the financial capital, leaving at least 14 people dead.

Rivers overflow in Assam

Several rivers swelled up in Assam state in the northeast in July after seasonal monsoon rains, triggering floods and landslides that killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands.

More than 150 animals, including rare one-horned rhinoceros, drowned in the state’s Kaziranga National Park.

People use a boat to cross flood waters following heavy rainfall, in Nagaon district. PTI/File

The Brahmaputra was above the danger level at Neamatighat, and Kopili was also flowing above the danger level at Kampur. The second major river, Barak, was inching closer to the danger level, as per reports received from Water Resource Department.

Cyclone ravages South India

A severe cyclone hit India’s southeastern coast in December 2023 after torrential rains and flooding killed at least 13 people.

Sustained downpours in Tamil Nadu in the subsequent days led to inundated neighbourhoods, roads and railways, and killed at least 31 people.

Himalayan glacial lake outburst

A Himalayan glacial lake burst its banks in October 2023 after heavy rains in the northeastern state of Sikkim, triggering the region’s worst floods in more than 50 years which killed 179 and swept away homes and bridges.

A glacial lake outburst flood is a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake. The dam can consist of glacier ice or a terminal moraine. Failure can happen due to erosion, a buildup of water pressure, an avalanche of rock or heavy snow or even earthquake.

Landslide sweeps power projects in Uttarakhand

A landslide 20 kilometres away from the second highest peak in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in February 2021 left more than 200 dead, triggered flash floods and swept away two hydroelectric projects.

Landslides wreak havoc near Mumbai

A landslide in July 2023 flattened several homes in a village near Mumbai, killing at least 27 and trapped scores of residents.

As per officials, almost 500 mm of lashed the Raigad district for three days. Two India Air Force helicopters were kept on stand-by to assist in the operation but due to the continuous downpour were unable to take flight.

Disturbed weather conditions caused difficulties for the rescue and relief operation.

Floods devastate Kerala

The southern state of Kerala witnessed its worst flood in a century in 2018, which killing at least 373 people and displaced 1.2 million to shelter camps.

The state had  40 per cent more rainfall than its average.

With inputs from Reuters

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