India recently became the 4th largest economy in the world, surpassing Japan. We are often called a “developing country” and are moving forward in technology, space, defence, and digital growth. But when the rainy season comes, it feels like we are still stuck with the same old problems: flooded roads, waterlogging, broken drains, traffic jams, and even accidents due to potholes.

People say India is rising. But can we really call it development if our cities drown every year with just one or two days of heavy rain?

Every year, during monsoon, videos go viral from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram, where roads look like rivers. Cars float like paper boats, and people walk through knee- or waist-deep water. Many even fall sick as the water is mixed with drain waste.

Most of our cities run on old drainage systems built decades ago. These systems were never made to handle such a big population or such heavy rain, which is increasing due to climate change. Cities are growing with more buildings, malls, highways, and societies, but the drainage system is not growing with them.

Where natural ponds, lakes, and wetlands once helped in soaking extra rainwater, we now see apartments, shops, and roads. These water-absorbing spaces are lost to construction, and as a result, there is no place for the water to go. It fills the streets, homes, offices, and even hospitals.

The worst part is that these problems affect common people the most: daily wage workers, slum areas, low-income families, and people living in low-lying areas. They lose their homes, their savings, and sometimes even their lives.

Monsoon mayhem: Why lashing rains wreak havoc annually in India's cities - BBC News

Photograph: Getty Images

Many international diplomats come and visit India, but they only see the clean, decorated parts of cities. They do not visit during the rains. If they did, they would see the “real picture”: people stuck in traffic for hours, water entering homes, ambulances stuck in flooded roads, and children missing school due to roadblocks.

Is this the smart city plan we were promised?

Science has already warned us. Because of climate change, the air is becoming warmer and holding more moisture. In the Himalayan region, cloudbursts have increased at a scary rate. In 2023, Himachal Pradesh saw more than 60 cloudbursts during the monsoon. Even in 2024, it has already seen over 25 by July.

Cities in India are not built to handle this kind of sudden and heavy rain. The drains are either too small, missing, or choked with garbage and plastic. Maintenance only happens after the flood comes. There is no proper cleaning throughout the year.

Construction companies and industries are also responsible. They throw debris and waste into drains. Real estate builders build societies on top of wetlands and floodplains. These are the same areas that once used to absorb water. Now, the water has no place to go but into people’s homes and onto the roads.

This must change. We cannot wait for another disaster to take action. We need long-term solutions, not temporary patchwork. Drains must be rebuilt to suit today’s needs. They must be cleaned regularly, not just when someone complains.

Mumbai battles rain chaos as red alert issued

Photograph: UrbanAcres

Construction on lakes, wetlands, and floodplains should be banned completely. These areas should be protected by law. Restoring ponds, green spaces, and parks is not just about beautification; it is about saving lives during floods.

Local authorities must also create early warning systems, especially in hill areas. People living in risky zones must get alerts in time to evacuate. But just giving a warning is not enough. There must be trained disaster response teams, safe shelters, and clear evacuation plans.

Industries must also take responsibility. They must follow safe construction standards, dispose of waste properly, and build keeping climate risks in mind. Otherwise, they will keep making profits while the common man pays the price.

Also we, as citizens, also have a role. We must stop throwing plastic and garbage into drains. We must raise our voice against illegal constructions. Development is not just about tall buildings and fast internet. It is also about safety, clean surroundings, and roads that don’t become rivers after rain.

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