The monsoon isn’t yet over but Delhi has already received more than its fair share of rainfall: 1,136.8 mm as of September 11. This is over...
The monsoon isn’t yet over but Delhi has already received more than its fair share of rainfall: 1,136.8 mm as of September 11. This is over 75% more than the normal (which, as per Indian Meteorological Department, is 648.9 mm). The last time it rained so hard was when 1,155.6 mm rainfall was recorded in 1975 – nearly half a century ago.
In previous years, Delhi usually experienced one or two heavy rain events during the entire season. But this monsoon, the city has witnessed seven such events so far, accounting for more than 60% of the total rainfall.
Neighbouring Gurugram is no different. It has recorded 44% excess rainfall this monsoon season. Four lives were lost there due to the unusually heavy rainfall.
Such unusual weather events have been experienced in several parts of the world this year. China’s Henan province, for instance, reported 302 deaths and 50 people missing as a result of such an extreme weather event in July. Zhengzhou, a city in this province, was the worst affected, receiving 200 mm of rain in one hour on July 20. Earlier that month, floods started in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland after record rainfall across western Europe caused several rivers to burst...
