Final answer:
The Southwest Monsoon brings heavy rains to the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, parts of Bangladesh, and eastern India. It is essential for agriculture but can also cause severe flooding in low-lying areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Southwest Monsoon brings heavy rains to various regions of South Asia, with the monsoon season typically beginning in late May or early June and ending by early October. The Western Ghats, Maharashtra (India), and parts of Bangladesh and eastern India experience significant rainfall during this period. The southwestern coasts and the sub-Himalayan areas receive the most precipitation. The monsoon is a result of a seasonal reversal of winds, which brings moisture from the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal to the subcontinent. As the warm, moist air is pulled into the continent, it rises over topographic features like the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, leading to heavy rainfall on the windward side. Conversely, areas like the Thar Desert and parts of Pakistan experience desert conditions due to their location in the rain shadow of these topographic barriers.
Environmental and infrastructural challenges arise due to the monsoon, particularly in low-elevation coastal areas of southern Bangladesh, where severe flooding can occur. The monsoon's rain is crucial for the large populations living along the major rivers like the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus, as it provides the necessary water for agricultural production and sustains the ecosystem. Therefore, the monsoon is both essential for sustenance and a source of environmental challenges for the region.