Critics and environmental observers argue that the recurring nature of these disasters points to systemic failures in disaster preparedness and urban planning. In Kerala, the recent landslides have reignited concerns regarding hill cutting and land-use policies that weaken slopes and increase vulnerability to extreme weather. Despite the lessons from previous floods, the state’s inability to accurately predict and prepare for localized cloudbursts suggests a significant gap in weather forecasting capabilities and disaster response readiness. The reliance on reactive relief measures rather than robust, preventative infrastructure leaves communities perpetually at risk.
In Assam, the annual cycle of flooding and the resulting loss of life and property have led to calls for a more fundamental shift in strategy. Skeptics point out that while relief camps provide temporary respite, they do not address the root causes of the devastation, such as poor basin-based planning, unchecked siltation, and failing flood defenses. The fact that the same districts are affected year after year suggests that current mitigation strategies are insufficient to handle the changing climate patterns. There is a growing demand for accountability regarding how public funds are utilized for infrastructure and whether these projects are truly designed to withstand the increasingly intense monsoon events that now define the region's reality.