New Delhi, July 29 -- Meghalaya in northeastern India translates to the 'Abode of Clouds' because of the near permanent presence of clouds and accompanying rain. Two of the rainiest places in the world, Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are also in the state where 83 per cent of the population is dependent on rain-fed agriculture and 48 per cent of the land is cultivable.

The current monsoon, recent and even long-term trends suggest a rethinking of the name and poses a concern for the livelihood and water security of many regions of the state.

During the Southwest Monsoon (SWM) season of 2025, the state has the highest rainfall deficit among all the states and Union Territories (UT) of the country at 56 per cent. Even in terms of absolute rainf...