From air crash to terror attacks: How deadly tragedies shook India every month of 2025

From air crash to terror attacks: How deadly tragedies shook India every month of 2025

2025 was marked by a succession of deadly incidents across India, with plane crashes, terror attacks, stampedes, fires, explosions and natural disasters claiming hundreds of lives. From crowded religious gatherings and political rallies to infrastructure sites and public spaces, the tragedies exposed repeated failures in safety planning, regulation and emergency response across sectors and states.

Here is a month-by-month look at the major tragedies that defined India in 2025:

On January 8, a stampede near ticket counters at Tirupati during preparations for the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival claimed six lives and left several others injured. The rush was triggered by overcrowding and confusion over the opening of a gate for special darshan tokens. While overall crowd management measures helped stabilise the situation later, a lapse at one location proved fatal.

On January 29, at least 30 people were killed, and 60 were injured during a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The incident occurred on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious bathing days, as thousands of pilgrims converged at the Sangam. The 45-day festival ultimately saw over 660 million visitors.

Late on February 15, a sudden surge of passengers at New Delhi Railway Station led to a deadly stampede that killed at least 18 people and injured 15 others. Severe overcrowding on platforms 12 and 14, as pilgrims waited for trains to Prayagraj for the Kumbh, triggered panic and chaos.

On February 22, a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel under construction collapsed in Nagarkurnool district, trapping workers inside. After days of rescue efforts in hazardous conditions, at least eight workers were confirmed dead, raising serious concerns over safety practices at large infrastructure sites.

On April 22, terrorists opened fire in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, killing 26 civilians, most of them tourists. The attack led to Operation Sindoor on May 7, with Indian forces striking terror targets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan. A four-day military confrontation followed before a ceasefire was reached on May 10.

On June 12, London-bound Air India Flight 171 crashed moments after take-off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people. While one passenger survived, 241 onboard were killed, along with several people on the ground, taking the total death toll to 260. The investigation into one of the deadliest plane crashes in India’s history remains ongoing.

On June 4, celebrations following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory turned tragic near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Over two lakh fans gathered for a felicitation event, leading to a massive crowd crush. Eleven people died of asphyxia, and many others were injured, exposing glaring failures in crowd management.

On June 30, a powerful explosion at Sigachi Industries Limited in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district, killed 54 people and left eight missing. The blast flattened a three-storey building. A technical committee later cited gross negligence, including untrained staff and outdated machinery, as key causes.

On August 5, a cloudburst, later suspected to be a glacial lake outburst, struck Dharali and Harsil villages in Uttarkashi. Flash floods along the Kheer Ganga river killed at least five people, with more than 50, including 11 Army personnel, reported missing. Nearly 30 homes and 20 hotels were destroyed. Over 400 people were evacuated in a large-scale rescue operation.

On August 14, a cloudburst hit Chasoti village in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 50 people and injuring over 100 others. The disaster struck during the Machail Mata yatra, catching a large gathering of pilgrims off guard. Rescue operations were hampered by difficult terrain.

On September 27, a stampede during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally in Velusamypuram, Karur district, killed 41 people and injured more than 100. The crowd surged towards actor-politician Vijay’s convoy after his arrival was delayed by nearly seven hours, leading to chaos and crowd mismanagement.

On November 10, a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort killed 15 people and injured several others in a terror-related incident. The blast occurred amid nationwide raids linked to a larger terror network. Multiple arrests followed, and investigations are ongoing.

Late on November 14, an accidental explosion at Nowgam Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir killed at least nine people and injured 29 others. The blast occurred while personnel were extracting samples from seized explosives linked to a terror module.

At least 19 passengers were killed and several others injured after a Bengaluru-bound private sleeper bus caught fire in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh early on Friday (October 24, 2025). The bus, travelling from Hyderabad with 43 passengers onboard, went up in flames near Chinnatekuru village around 3.30 am.

Police said the fire broke out after the bus hit a motorbike, killing the rider on the spot. The bike was dragged under the vehicle, triggering sparks that caused the blaze

On December 6, a massive fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, North Goa, killed 25 people. Investigators found that the venue lacked basic fire safety equipment and proper emergency exits. The owners were arrested after fleeing abroad and now face trial.