Monsoon rains trigger flooding in India

Bangladesh and northeastern parts of India have seen torrential downpours over the last few weeks.

Gauhati in Assam was just one of those places that have been affected. 638mm of rain has been reported in 8 days, which is more than twice the average for the month of June. The majority of that rain, 432mm, fell in just 3 days between the 24 and 26 June.

This has led to widespread flooding in Gauhati, and other parts of northeast India and Bangladesh have fared just as badly.

The floods have claimed the lives of 81 people, and over two million more have been forced to leave their homes.

However, whilst some parts of South Asia have been inundated, others are anxiously still waiting for the rains which are lagging two weeks behind schedule.

At this time of year, the rains should be covering all but the far northwestern parts of India, but they are a long way further south.

Many states have yet to see the monsoon including Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the majority of Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Even some parts of the country that have welcomed the monsoon rains are expressing concern that it has not been enough. 65% of the country is reporting well below average rainfall, 20% less than expected.

This is a serious problem for one of the world’s leading producers of rice, sugar, wheat and cotton.