Rozana Bhaskar, Jalandhar (Harish Sharma): Each monsoon swell in Delhi and Punjab exposes more than vulnerable villages and ruined harvests; it lays bare the failure of leadership to act on decades of clear warnings. The recurring floods across northern India and Pakistan are less a surprise of nature and more the direct consequence of policy paralysis, unregulated construction, vanishing forests, damaged ecosystems, and the absence of a serious climate strategy.
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An Unforgiving Monsoon
The enormous agricultural fields that are the foundation of Punjab’s economy have been swamped by the floods, putting food security at risk and further trapping farmers in debt cycles. The area is frequently referred to be India’s “food basket” since it supplies 11% of the nation’s rice and nearly 18% of its wheat, making farmland devastation a national issue. Families who were already struggling financially now had to deal with the pain of losing both their houses and their means of subsistence. Official reports state that more than 148,000 hectares of crops have been washed away in Indian Punjab alone, and that 1.2 million people have been uprooted and over 1,400 villages have been submerged in Pakistan’s Punjab region.
In this flood, from the Yamuna riverbanks of Delhi to the rich plains of Punjab province, water has risen with ferocious fury, sweeping away villages, inundating agricultural land, and displacing thousands. The Yamuna River in Delhi has risen past the danger limit once more, reaching its highest level of the season at 207.48 meters. Levels have started to slightly decrease, but the harm has already been done. Water broke into the villages of residents in Ghaziabad, and the city—already struggling with a poor drainage system—has seen extensive flooding, traffic jams, and the closure of marketplaces and schools. The poorest, many living in temporary floodplain camps, have lost what little they had.
This destruction is reflected in Pakistan as well. Dam releases and unusually high rainfall have submerged 1,400 villages in Punjab province. More than 1.2 million people have been displaced, with many still missing and at least 15 lives lost. Relief efforts have been hampered by waterlogged highways and broken bridges, cutting off entire communities. In agricultural districts, fears of epidemics grow as cattle corpses float in stagnant rivers.
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Beyond Nature
Even though monsoons and glacier melts are natural occurrences, the tragedy cannot be seen as merely natural. Human choices have amplified the disaster. Deforestation in the Himalayas has destabilized soil, triggered landslides and removed natural barriers against floods. Weak regulation has filled floodplains with unsafe construction, leaving cities like Delhi dangerously exposed.
This is not an isolated event. Floods in Kerala (2018), Assam (2020), and Himachal Pradesh (2023) revealed the same pattern: poor drainage, delayed dam openings, and inadequate disaster planning. Despite repeated warnings, little has changed in long-term climate planning or infrastructure readiness.
Political carelessness continues to deepen the crisis. Dams remain mismanaged, riverbanks are poorly maintained, and urban planning prioritizes growth over resilience. The 2025 floods, therefore, represent not just nature’s wrath but also failed policies, weak leadership, and short-sighted development goals.
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The Fight Back, Relief, and Determination
Despite hardship, stories of persistence are emerging. Volunteers, students, and soldiers in Punjab’s Ropar district have worked waist-deep in water to strengthen the Satluj River banks. Local groups like Kar Sewa Qila Anandgarh have distributed food, water, and shelter to displaced families.
The central government has deployed inspection teams and sent the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to carry out rescue missions, evacuations, and relief distribution. Refugees from the Yamuna floodplains are being sheltered in emergency camps across Delhi. Even civil society has mobilized—actor Randeep Hooda was seen assisting in Gurdaspur, a symbolic gesture that highlights the need for nationwide mobilization.
But the danger is not over. The India Meteorological Department warns of higher-than-usual rainfall through September, especially in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, raising the risk of more landslides and flash floods in already saturated terrain.
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An Area at Risk
This increases the probability of more landslides and flash floods in areas that are already at risk. Even mild rainfall in the upcoming weeks could cause new crises because the land is already saturated and the rivers are overflowing.
This year’s floods are a stark reminder of the fragility of life in the face of climate change. They echo scientists’ long-standing warnings that global warming will intensify the frequency of such disasters.
The catastrophe stems from a dangerous mix of unplanned urbanization, glacial melt, erratic monsoon patterns, and inadequate services.
Yet, amidst sorrow, the determination of communities stands out. Still, resilience alone cannot replace responsibility.
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Bridging the Gap
Both India and Pakistan already possess frameworks to manage such disasters. India’s NDMA and Pakistan’s NDMA, alongside state disaster authorities and climate action plans, stress preparedness, mitigation, and resilience. Initiatives like the National Action Plan on Climate Change, watershed management, and afforestation are designed to reduce risk. Floodplain zoning and early warning systems are also in place, at least on paper.
Yet the 2025 floods reveal the gap between policy and practice. Weak enforcement, delayed implementation, and poor coordination expose millions to risk. Short-term political priorities, such as rapid urban growth, undermine sustainable planning. What is needed is strict enforcement of construction norms, maintenance of embankments and dams, and stronger regional cooperation on river management.
Unless existing frameworks are strengthened with transparency and accountability, the cycle of annual devastation will continue.
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Conclusion
The floods of 2025 are more than a tragedy; they are a turning point. They demonstrate the urgent consequences of neglecting environmental realities and treating disasters as isolated crises. Governments must adopt forward-looking climate policies, strengthen infrastructure, and respect ecological boundaries, or such tragedies will only grow in frequency and intensity.
Yet amidst the destruction, the unity and determination of ordinary people show a way forward. If matched by decisive leadership and sustainable policy, this spirit of solidarity can ensure that future monsoons bring life, not loss.
