March Rainfall in Assam: A Tale of Two Extremes
March rainfall in Assam showcased two extremes—while eastern Assam was drenched with excess rain, western Assam faced severe drought-like conditions. With rising temperatures and climate concerns, this disparity highlights the urgent need for sustainable water management and forest conservation.
If there were ever a way to sum up March rainfall in Assam this year, it would be this: one half of the state was drowning while the other half was left parched, staring up at a sky that had seemingly misplaced its rain clouds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that rainfall across the state was deficient by 26 per cent, but the real drama lay in the stark disparities between different regions.
A Soaking in the East, A Sahara in the West
Eastern Assam received a proper drenching, with Dhemaji leading the pack at a whopping 187.2 mm of rainfall—exactly double its usual share. Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, and Dibrugarh also got more than their fair share, leaving residents either relieved or utterly fed up with soggy socks and perpetual dampness.
Meanwhile, western Assam must have collectively offended the rain gods, as places like Goalpara barely got a drizzle—2.7 mm against a usual 49.5 mm, a staggering 95 per cent deficit. Nagaon, Baksa, Barpeta, Cachar, and Darrang also suffered a dry spell, with some places seeing rain deficits of up to 90 per cent. At this rate, farmers in these regions might soon start eyeing their neighbour’s clouds with envy.
Scorching Heat and a Side of Climate Change
With such uneven rainfall, temperatures have decided to go rogue. Guwahati has been baking in 34-degree heat on multiple occasions, well above its usual 30-31 degrees. The eastern districts aren’t far behind, recording temperatures of 30-31 degrees where the norm is a more bearable 27-28 degrees. And if you were hoping for some cooling showers, think again—the IMD suggests things will only get toastier in the coming weeks.
The Bigger Picture: India’s Hotter-Than-Usual Summer
Looking beyond Assam, India is bracing itself for a brutal summer, with the IMD predicting a hotter-than-usual April to June across most of the country. The usual four to seven heatwave days are set to increase by two to four extra days in many states, with places like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha expected to endure up to 11 sizzling days of relentless heat. The message is clear: stock up on sunscreen and prepare to roast.
A Nation Feeling the Heat
Last year saw India record its hottest day at a mind-melting 50.5 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Churu. Heatwaves led to 143 officially reported deaths, though independent studies suggest the real toll was much higher. This year’s heatwave has arrived early, with parts of the Konkan and coastal Karnataka already experiencing sweltering conditions by late February. Hospitals have been put on alert, and experts warn that without serious action, these extreme weather patterns will become the new normal.
Forests Under Threat
The primary reason for such a state of affair is the huge scale deforestation in the country. Between 2001 and 2018, the country lost over 20,000 square kilometres of forest—roughly 7 per cent of its total cover. Climate change, deforestation, and shifting weather patterns are taking their toll, weakening the forests’ ability to store carbon and regulate climate.
The Road Ahead
Assam’s March rainfall conundrum is just a snapshot of the larger climate crisis. As India marches towards an even hotter summer, the need for sustainable water management, climate resilience, and forest conservation has never been more urgent. Whether policymakers rise to the occasion or not, one thing is certain: the weather isn’t waiting for anyone to catch up.
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