Western Ghats Receives Record Rainfall

The Western Ghats, one of India’s most vital ecological zones, has recorded the highest monsoon rainfall in 50 years, triggering both celebration and concern among environmentalists and authorities. Key districts in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have received over 3000 mm of rain within the first month of the monsoon, surpassing IMD forecasts. While the rains have revitalized groundwater tables, rivers, and reservoirs, they have also led to landslides, crop loss, and flash floods in low lying villages. Forest officials report that the heavy rain has benefited wildlife habitats, rejuvenated wetlands, and enhanced forest cover recovery. However, large scale damage to roads and human settlements has also occurred. The Geological Survey of India has warned of potential slope instability in deforested regions. Climate experts link this extreme rainfall to warming ocean temperatures in the Arabian Sea and shifting monsoon wind patterns. The state governments are scaling up disaster relief and reviewing dam release protocols to prevent downstream flooding. The heavy rainfall has once again highlighted the ecological importance of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the urgent need for sustainable development in its buffer zones. The data from this season will be used for climate modeling and early warning improvements.