Has Meaning of Rain Become Just a Water Dance?

July 9, 2026

After enduring extreme temperatures and heat, rain was eagerly awaited across the country. Farmers were waiting so they could sow paddy in their fields. Tourists were waiting so they could relax in picturesque places. Ordinary people were waiting so they could escape the heat and work harder with good health.

Rain fell in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. But did this rain bring a deluge?

Where drizzle was expected, cloudbursts began. This story isn’t limited to Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Gujarat; it’s also unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. A cloudburst in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, caused flooding. Falling stones and debris damaged homes, shops, and vehicles, burying many vehicles. Vehicular traffic on the Kishtwar-Doda highway has been halted. A landslide occurred near a church in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

In Kishtwar, vehicles parked near a 420-megawatt hydroelectric project under construction were swept away by debris on Sunday night. Mumbai received 15 inches of rain in two days. Schools, colleges, and even temples had to be closed to prevent loss of life.

The monsoon is expected to cover the entire country on July 8th. Heavy rain is also expected in several districts of Punjab. Several districts in Malwa may experience moderate to heavy rainfall. Ludhiana, Patiala, Pathankot, Rupnagar, Gurdaspur, and Mohali are expected to experience heavy rainfall.

However, whether it’s moderate or heavy, the condition of urban sewerage systems is such that they can quickly become flooded and roads blocked. Even repaired roads develop potholes, leading to an increase in road accidents.

Rail and air services in Mumbai have been affected, and 20 long-distance trains have been cancelled. Air services are also being disrupted, and the situation is such that the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, built at a cost of Rs 6,695 crore, hasn’t even survived its first monsoon. The landslides there have raised questions about the quality of construction.