As 2025 draws to a close, official data has revealed the devastating impact of extreme weather events across India, with at least 2,760 lives lost during the year. Lightning strikes, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, floods, heatwaves, landslides and cold waves together contributed to the grim toll, highlighting the growing vulnerability of large parts of the country to climate-related disasters.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 410 deaths linked to extreme weather. Of these, 79 were caused by heavy rainfall and flooding. Madhya Pradesh followed closely with 350 deaths resulting from lightning, storms, floods and heatwaves. Maharashtra also saw significant losses, with more than 270 people killed due to a combination of heavy rain, flooding, lightning, heatwaves and hailstorms.
Several eastern and central states witnessed alarming numbers as well. Jharkhand reported around 200 deaths, while Bihar recorded 174 fatalities, many of them caused by lightning strikes, which continue to be one of the deadliest weather-related hazards in the region. In the Himalayan belt, the impact was particularly severe, with Jammu and Kashmir recording 168 deaths and Himachal Pradesh reporting 166 fatalities, largely due to cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods.
Heavy rainfall-related disasters alone accounted for 1,370 deaths in 2025. Maharashtra topped this list with 210 fatalities, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 160 deaths and Jammu and Kashmir with 155. Some of the deadliest incidents included the Kishtwar cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 63 people, and a landslide in Reasi that claimed 32 lives. Madhya Pradesh also saw 150 deaths linked to rain-induced disasters, while Uttarakhand recorded 105 fatalities, including dozens who were killed or went missing during cloudbursts.
Even states that are not traditionally prone to such extreme weather were badly affected. Rajasthan reported 74 deaths, while Punjab saw 59 fatalities due to flooding. These incidents underline a worrying trend in which extreme weather is no longer confined to specific regions but is increasingly affecting large parts of the country.
The data from 2025 paints a stark picture of how climate-related events are becoming more frequent, more intense and more deadly. While lightning remains a major killer in the plains, floods and landslides continue to devastate hilly and coastal regions, reinforcing the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness, early warning systems and climate resilience measures nationwide.
