It is that time of the year again when the rain gods are generous and give us a chance to fill our lands and lakes with usable water. Monsoon season is really here and so is the lush greenery everywhere. However, this is also the time when crumbling infrastructure starts showing its obvious cracks in most cities. And you never know when the wrath of nature can turn things from bad to worse. With climate change and flourishing here, it is even more necessary to be prepared for the worst case scenario when the skies turn grey. And to help you do that, we’ve rounded up seven essentials that we recommend that you carry in your car as part of an emergency kit during monsoons.
Read also: How to take care of your car tires during monsoon?
Your smartphone is a newspaper, map, GPS navigation device, phone and more, all rolled into one. Make sure it has enough juice to last in an emergency
1. Power Bank
With our lives dependent on electronics, you can never have enough of these. Invest in a large capacity power bank that can charge your devices at least twice. Make it a constant part of your car’s emergency kit and be sure to check the charge status from time to time.
2. Power Bar and Water
Unforeseen circumstances can force you into situations where you may be stuck for longer than expected. It is better to have a food source as a backup that can sustain you for an average of 24 to 48 hours. This is especially true in remote locations where gaining access to food or housing can be a problem. The same problem is with pure drinking water. So, invest in a reusable water bottle. You can always directly capture rainwater and drink it in case of emergency.
Read also: 5 tips for driving a two wheeler in monsoon
Build your toolkit with all the essentials you need for your vehicle. Plus, download a digital version of your car’s owner’s manual on your smartphone.
3. Multi-Purpose Toolkit
A portable multi-purpose toolkit takes up minimal space in your boot and can be extremely handy when it comes to getting you out of a sticky situation. A few wrenches, screwdrivers and spanners should do the trick, among other essentials. Be sure to also add a set of jumper cables to your toolkit.
4. Changing clothes and towels
Like food, clothes can seem like a luxury when you’re stuck in the monsoons, especially when you’re getting wet. So make sure you have another pair of clothes to change. Anything made from a quick-drying material is even better. Alternatively, you can also carry a towel that absorbs water from your seats and dries quickly. At the same time, carry some plastic bags to store wet items.
Your first aid kit should not only contain essentials, but also medicines that you need urgently
5. First Aid Kit and Medicine
Always carry all your important medicines in your emergency kit on road trips irrespective of monsoon. These should be part of your first aid kit and may be replenished from time to time. You never know which ones you’ll need and having immediate access to them will be a life saver.
6. Flashlight
Last, but not least, a flashlight is an essential addition to your car’s essentials kit. Whether stuck on the road due to rain or a breakdown, a powerful flashlight will only help make your life easier. At the same time, be sure to have a spare set of AA batteries that can power a flashlight or other equipment.
Read also: Top 5 Important Car Care Tips For Monsoon
Make sure your jack, spanner, warning triangle and a de-greasing lubricant are all in place before you hit the road
7. Parts
It is important that you keep some useful parts of your vehicle with you so that you can get out of a difficult situation. Components such as bulbs, fuses, a warning triangle, jacks, wheel spanners, industrial rubber gloves and a lubricant that can remove, penetrate or remove rust from the affected areas in the vehicle.