MUMBAI: India is no stranger to heavy rainfall and floods during the monsoon season and every year like we are witnessing this year, the country faces the wrath of nature, causing loss of lives and extensive damage to infrastructure year after year. 

Although one cannot fathom the fury of nature all the time, Nevertheless, it seems that we do not learn from the past and continue to face the same problems year after year. Even normal expected rainfall exceeds a little more,  areas all around us witness flash floods wreaking havoc, as we are seeing across parts of the country right now, causing loss of lives and extensive damage to infrastructure. 

And if the rains exceed normal levels then citizens are left to the mercy of nature, for years we see the same events unfold, and the same mistakes are repeated. In the last decade alone, India has witnessed numerous cases of flood-induced destruction and the situation of 2015 in Tamil Nadu and the floods in Kerala in 2018 are examples of how devastating consequences unpreparedness can lead to.

The main reasons for these tragic incidents are poor drainage systems, weak infrastructure, and lack of preparedness on the part of authorities leading to catastrophic consequences, we all know this, but why are these issues not tackled on a war footing? 

Especially in cities like Mumbai, where government say they spend huge funds on proper drainage of rainwater so that flooding could be avoided, flooding at low points is an annual phenomenon. Roads burst up and are replaced by potholes, and several deaths have resulted due to these craters on roads in the city, yet no one is held accountable for these tragedies. 

Year after year experts talk and suggest that comprehensive flood-control plans have to be implemented in all the flood-prone regions. Infrastructures, such as dams and reservoirs, that can help store excess water and prevent overflowing rivers and lakes should be built and improving soil quality and promoting green cover in the catchment areas can also mitigate the negative effects of heavy rainfall to some extent.

It does not require rocket science to see that in India the state government as well as the center may perhaps not be taking these issues with the seriousness they deserve. It's time that lack of preparedness on the part of the government causing loss of lives and property should be considered criminal in the larger interest of society. 

There is also a need for better preparedness and response mechanisms to deal with emergencies, although we have done quite a lot in terms of setting up disaster relief agencies which do a commendable job, but, it's time that we learn from the past and take steps to mitigate the impact of rain fury for the future.