More lives were lost to natural disasters in 2024–25 than in any other year in the past decade, according to newly released government data. Extreme natural events such as floods, droughts, and temperature rise claimed over 3,000 lives—the highest toll in 11 years.
This marks a sharp increase from 2,616 deaths in 2023–24, and is nearly double the loss recorded in 2022–23.
But it wasn’t just lives that were affected. Damage to homes and livelihoods also escalated sharply. In 2024–25, 361,124 houses were damaged due to natural disasters—up from 140,384 the previous year.
Himalayan havoc
Himachal Pradesh was the worst-hit state, accounting for nearly 15 percent of all fatalities—about 450 of the 3,080 lives lost.
Kerala, lashed by floods in Wayanad, recorded 387 deaths, while the seven northeastern states together saw 353 fatalities.
The death toll in the seven northeastern states has been rising this year as well. As of June 5, 46 deaths had already been reported from the region in this fiscal year.
Historical patterns also show that flood-related deaths rose by 8 percent during 2018–2022 compared to the previous five-year span (2013–17).
In contrast, the same region—excluding Sikkim—had recorded 148 deaths in 2023–24, pointing to a troubling acceleration. It’s as if nature, once nudging gently, is now knocking over walls.
Heat and lightning strike harder
The increasing intensity of heat waves may be another driver behind the rising toll. India recorded 200 heatwave days in 2024—the highest in 14 years. Only 2010 was worse, with 278 heatwave days.
A Moneycontrol analysis shows that while the government has succeeded in reducing cyclone-related deaths—bringing the annual average down to 78 deaths during 2018–22, from far higher levels in earlier decades—lightning and cold exposure are bigger killers.
Lightning accounted for 37 percent of disaster-related deaths between 2018 and 2022—up from 11 percent a decade earlier.
Between 2018 and 2022, fatalities caused by heat-strokes and cold waves had reduced. Heatstroke accounted for 50 percent fewer deaths between 2018-22 compared with 1,367 lives lost between 2013 and 2018, and fatalities from cold exposure declined by 17 percent compared to the previous five-year period (2013–2017).
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