India's monsoon has turned wild. Half of the country is reeling under floods after extraordinary downpours, with Punjab facing its worst deluge since 1988. Some parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan saw rains more than 1,000% above normal in just 24 hours, the Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) says. Between 28 August and 3 September, rainfall in northwest India was 180% above average, and in the south, it was 73%. More heavy rain is forecast across large parts of the country this week, exacerbating the ongoing crisis.

The climate crisis is changing the behaviour of the monsoon. Scientists have noted a higher amount of moisture in the atmosphere from both the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, which is linked to increasing global temperatures. Traditionally, monsoon rains were steady, but they are now falling in intense bursts after prolonged dry spells, leading to severe impacts across numerous regions.

Furthermore, an interplay between the monsoonal weather system and western disturbances from the Mediterranean region has intensified the rainfall this year, leading to a unique and extreme weather phenomenon.

There are several anthropogenic factors contributing to flooding as well. Inadequate infrastructure and human expansion into riverbanks have led to greater vulnerability to flooding events. These challenges call for urgent attention to better manage flood risks and enhance adaptive capacity to changing climate conditions.