As heavy monsoon rains lash India, major cities face repeated flooding. Poor drainage, outdated infrastructure, and unchecked construction have turned modern urban areas into waterlogged zones. Cloudbursts and urban floods are rising, fueled by climate change. Experts call for urgent, long-term reforms.

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• Indian cities repeatedly flood during monsoon; drainage systems outdated and overloaded
• 65 cloudbursts in Himachal in 2023; 27 already in 2024 monsoon season
• Climate change increasing rainfall intensity; warm air holds more moisture, causes sudden downpours
• Most drainage systems built decades ago; not designed for current population or rainfall
• Drains clogged by plastic, debris, construction waste; cleaned only after flooding
• Wetlands, ponds built over for real estate; no space left for water to flow
• Poor, low-lying residents worst hit; lose homes, health, and work in floods
• Industries add to crisis via illegal dumping, bad planning, zero flood-resilient design
• Fixes include upgrading drainage, protecting wetlands, restoring water bodies, year-round cleaning
• Need early warnings, enforced construction laws, and pre-disaster coordination—not just post-flood relief