Cloudbursts often occur when strong updrafts in thunderstorms hold large amounts of water high in the atmosphere. Representative image.
| Photo Credit: Ric Matkowski/Unsplash
When a wall of water suddenly crashes from the sky and sweeps away homes and roads within minutes, one of the first words officials and the media in India reach for is ‘cloudburst’. However, the term is often misused in a way that can distract from poor planning and crumbling infrastructure.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a cloudburst occurs when a small area, around 20-30 sq. km, receives 10 cm or more of rain in an hour.
Published – July 29, 2026 01:30 pm IST
