Meghalaya known for hosting the world wettest places like Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, is witnessing a historic monsoon crisis. Once drenched in rain for most of the year, this northeastern Indian state has recorded a 56% rainfall deficit in 2025 the worst in the countryraising alarm for farmers, forests, and biodiversity.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department, between June 1 and July 28, Meghalaya received only 690.7 mm of rainfall, compared to a normal of 1,555.4 mm. In contrast, typically drier states like Jharkhand received more rain a staggering 732.6 mm, well above its average.
This isn’t a one-off anomaly. Long-term trends now reveal that Meghalaya’s rains have been declining consistently since the 1950s. Studies show that drier zones are spreading across the state, particularly in central and northern regions. Even Cherrapunji, once revered as Earth’s monsoon capital, is drying up, with seven out of twelve months showing reduced rainfall in data spanning 135 years.
The impact is grave. With 83% of Meghalaya’s population reliant on rain-fed farming, crops are failing, water sources are dwindling, and entire communities are on edge. Beyond agriculture, the unique ecosystems of this Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot—home to countless endemic species—are also under serious threat. These species, evolved for a constantly moist environment, may not survive continued drying.
Experts blame climate change for shifting monsoon patterns, intensifying some regions rains while depriving others like Meghalaya. As global temperatures rise, even the so-called Abode of Clouds is losing its rain-soaked identity, offering a stark reminder of how deeply climate change can unsettle nature’s most reliable rhythms.
Without urgent action from adaptive farming techniques to rainwater harvesting, biodiversity protection, and strong climate policies Meghalaya rainfall story could become a cautionary tale for other rain-rich regions across the globe.