Fire and Water: The Paradox of Rajasthan’s Changing Climate
Living in Rajasthan, we are used to the heat, but the recent shifts in extreme weather have been jarring. It feels like the predictability of our seasons has vanished; we are swinging from record-breaking heatwaves touching 50°C to sudden, intense torrential rains that our arid cities like Jaipur and Jodhpur simply aren't built to handle. The most visible challenge isn't just the temperature itself, but the concrete adaptability gap. Our urban infrastructure, designed for dry conditions, is now frequently overwhelmed by flash floods, bringing traffic to a standstill and damaging the livelihoods of daily wage workers who can’t escape the elements.
In response, I’ve noticed a fascinating blend of frustration and resilience in our community. While the government is slowly upgrading drainage systems to handle these new peaks, the most effective adaptation is happening at the household level. People are revisiting traditional climatic architecture bringing back Jaali screens for ventilation and white-washing roofs to reflect heat while simultaneously retrofitting older homes with higher plinths to guard against waterlogging. It’s a realization that we can no longer just "endure" the weather; we have to actively redesign our way of living to survive these new extremes.