📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Suman85
Weather
Meghalaya's Wettest Towns Face Rising Drought Threat
✍️ India Today
🗓 21 Sep 2026, 05:31 PM
👁 15
Meghalaya's towns that receive the most rainfall are now confronting a growing risk of drought, as climate variability and water management challenges strain local water supplies.
Despite being among the wettest places in India, several towns in Meghalaya are now experiencing a heightened risk of drought.
The paradox stems from increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and a lack of adequate water storage infrastructure. Heavy downpours often run off quickly, leaving reservoirs and wells dry during drier spells.
The water scarcity is affecting farmers, who rely on predictable rains for crops, and households that depend on local water sources for daily use. In some areas, the shortage has already led to rationing and a search for alternative supplies.
Local authorities and community groups are working to improve rainwater harvesting and to promote sustainable water use, but the challenges posed by climate change remain significant.
The paradox stems from increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and a lack of adequate water storage infrastructure. Heavy downpours often run off quickly, leaving reservoirs and wells dry during drier spells.
The water scarcity is affecting farmers, who rely on predictable rains for crops, and households that depend on local water sources for daily use. In some areas, the shortage has already led to rationing and a search for alternative supplies.
Local authorities and community groups are working to improve rainwater harvesting and to promote sustainable water use, but the challenges posed by climate change remain significant.