The Monsoon Conundrum – The Whens, Ifs, Whats and Hows

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I rarely start my posts with a video. However, this video is interesting as it fits right into the topic. Please watch the first few minutes before you can proceed any further:

I remember watching Jumanji when it was released on cable many years ago. The line in the video states that little rain never hurts anybody. Then comes the rebuttal- a lot can kill you!

When is a little too little and a lot too much? Too much rain hampers daily life whereas a little may cause water problems which I will come to later.

At first, it is the sweltering heat in May. The long wait for the monsoon to arrive on Indian shores happens in June. The abundance of rain in the preceding months is enough to kill the heat, reduce pollution and welcome a calm atmosphere. It is something that most of us wait for. That said, not everyone enjoys the rain.

It is a welcome relief, no doubt! But the feeling of relief amongst the masses can be subjective.

Rains has its pros and cons. The Monsoon Connundrum begins when it hits Indian shores – the good and bad aspects.

When and How Does the Monsoon Arrive?

In the Indian subcontinent, the monsoon phenomenon is a seasonal wind pattern that brings significant rainfall, which is crucial for the climate, agriculture, and way of life. Southwest and northeast monsoons make up the monsoon season.

Southwest Monsoon (June to September):

• The rainy season typically begins in early June with the southwest monsoon. Initially, it affected India’s southern part, particularly Kerala, before spreading north and east.
• The phenomenon is caused by the differential heating of land and sea. Over the region during summer, the Indian landmass heats up much faster than the surrounding oceans, causing a low-pressure area. A high-pressure area over the Indian Ocean causes moist air to flow towards the subcontinent. The humid air rises over mountain ranges like the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, where it cools, condenses, and precipitates.
• Impact: The southwest monsoon is crucial for agriculture as it accounts for 75-80% of India’s annual rainfall, impacting water availability, crop cycles, and economic activities.

The ‘Ifs’ of Monsoon:

• If the monsoon is delayed, it affects the agricultural produce. Vegetable prices may soar and even worse, the crops may get destroyed. Apart from the economic constraints, the summer heat lingers causing much discomfort. The accumulation of dust and dirt in the air poses some health risks. The summer this time was terrible with temperatures hitting a record 54 degrees in the north side of the country.
• If it rains heavily then it creates drought-like situations – One thing that comes to my mind is the severe rainfall that brings life to a standstill. Water logging makes commuting to work almost impossible. The Railway, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, throws life out of gear. The flooding the rains bring is not its fault. The cities aren’t designed to withstand flooding and the administration has a lackadaisical attitude towards providing an efficient mechanism to thwart such repeated attempts. I digress.
• If you are unprepared for the rain – If you have a vehicle like a two-wheeler which is more common than a four-wheeler, you should service it on time. Great care must be taken with the electrical components. This basic knowledge which not many bike owners follow.
• If you’re fond of eating outside food, follow caution as it may make you unwell. What works best is a commonsense approach. If it isn’t hygienic, it is unsafe. The approach I use is to have street food from known vendors – the ones I eat regularly. Often one must test the waters to ascertain what’s good and what’s not.

How to Navigate the Monsoon Season:

• Essential preparations for the monsoon – avoid street food unless it is unavoidable. The monsoon is notorious for bringing in several illnesses along with the rains. The problems are aplenty and some of the best ways to prevent any issues from taking shape is prevention.
• Health and safety tips during the rainy season – here’s a disclaimer – I am not a doctor, so take these suggestions with a pinch of salt. I take no responsibility and accountability for anything that doesn’t work. Consult a registered and authorised medical practitioner.

Mom’s age-old home remedy works best. She prepares an ayurvedic concoction which is good against cold. It is prepared from kadu-kirata it is widely available in stores and resident Indians are familiar with it.

For cough, adding turmeric in boiling milk soothes the throat in case of coughs. It must be taken for at least a week for positive effect. Turmeric Milk takes a while to show good signs. If taken diligently, the results show.  

• Managing daily life and routines in the rain. It goes without saying – in the rain, you need an umbrella and a raincoat. That sounds easy. When you have a bike and commute to the railway station, you need a raincoat and an umbrella when you travel on foot. What does that do, my bag gets heavy and bloated carrying the company laptop, lunch box and an umbrella. Other nitty-gritty stuff does not contribute much to the weight. Whatever I carry makes commuting challenging albeit at times to home and back. Imagine, this is my plight and some people go through much more than me!

Apart from those mentioned above, the government also takes the initiative by announcing heavy rainfall as advised by the MET. Too bad, most of the warnings do not match up to reality! However, do exercise caution and common sense

Personal Perspective:

• Share your personal experiences and anecdotes – The conundrum exists because of its unpredictability. The worsening rains year-on-year are exacerbated by persistent uncertainty and escalating climate change.

As a biker, I tend to take extra caution. I have to ensure my raincoat does not allow water to seep in. It

The wet roads cause the wheels to skid and make controlling the vehicle seldom difficult. Luckily the problem is not that serious for bikers as most take care when riding during the rains.

Cars have better mechanisms for control however, bikes above 150 CC have ABS as mandated by law. Yes, some level of control does exist. Visibility is another factor that hampers driving.

How the monsoon affects your daily life and work?

When it rains it gets messy. I have to commute to the railway station which is 4.5 km away. I have to contend with a few things on the road: the first of which is visibility. Heavy rains translate to poor visibility and slower traffic. Rains may delay the train’s arrival and departure or worse may get cancelled. Office-goers who stay far from their workplaces find commuting challenging under such circumstances.

After I park the bike, I have to fold my drenched raincoat in my backpack. Doing so consumes around 5 minutes of my time which also means me missing my train and waiting for the next to arrive.

Travelling by train is horrible due to the overcrowdedness and lackadaisical attitude of commuters. Most of them aren’t mature – which is sad- I digress.

• Tips and tricks you’ve learned over the years: Honestly, whenever I commute to work, I wouldn’t say I like it when it rains. The curious reason is that I have to wear the entire raincoat from top to bottom – the jacket and the pants. Wearing isn’t an issue; the challenge is folding and packing it back in my bag. That’s approximately 5 minutes extra I have to spend!  

I take the chance when it’s cloudy. I avoid wearing my raincoat as much as I can avoid. When it rains heavily, I park my bike wherever I can to get “dressed”.

When I don’t “dress” I have to contend with the muck that flies off tyres onto my shirt. I keep a safe distance when I notice such things occurring. It is always a good idea to slow down or move to the side to avoid direct splashes.

We have to go through these inconveniences every monsoon. Some have to go through more, while others do go through less. It is subjective and the interest varies from person to person.

The safest are the ones who commute to work by car. The only issue they face is unpredictable traffic.

Conclusion:

I know this blog post was long overdue. I am posting it mid-season, two months hence, the monsoon brings its retreat. The benefits of the rains and the hassles are common. It is the same story every year and I have described what I go through.

What do you go through? How similar or different is it from my situation? Do let me know.