Only 40 days remain before the year ends. However, at least 4,064 people have already fallen victim to extreme weather in 2025. The number of weather-related deaths has increased by nearly 40% compared to the previous year, 2024. Such alarming information has been revealed in a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an organisation working on environment and climate issues.
In October, devastating rains swept away vast areas of North Bengal. The extent of damage has not yet been fully calculated. It is estimated that the disaster caused losses of at least 1,200 to 1,400 crore rupees. However, it's not just Bengal – other states in the country have also witnessed the fury of this year's weather. According to CSE's report, Maharashtra has suffered the most agricultural damage due to the weather in 2025 so far. In that state, 84 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed due to drought or excessive rainfall. From March this year, severe heatwaves began in various areas of Maharashtra. When the monsoon finally came later, different areas of the entire state repeatedly faced unprecedented rainfall. On one hand, intense heat and lack of rain, and on the other hand, excessive rainfall – crops on agricultural land could not cope with both these challenges. Based on reports from the disaster management departments of various states, it has been found that Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths due to extreme weather in the country this year, at least two and a half thousand.
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The meteorologists and environmental scientists who prepared the report have stated that this report has been compiled based on information received from various non-governmental organisations working on weather and climate, and the disaster management departments of states. Experts believe the actual picture is much more grim than what the report shows. They report that at least three thousand people lost their lives to extreme weather in 2024. At least 32 lakh hectares of crops were damaged. This year, the death toll has increased to 4,064. A total of 94 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed.
This report, prepared based on data collected from every state in the country from January 1 to October 31, shows that out of the first 273 days of the year, 270 days – that is, 99% of the days – experienced extreme weather somewhere. During this time period, 2,414 people lost their lives in weather-related disasters in the country during just the four months of the monsoon. At least 1,456 people died due to lightning and storms.
