More than 93 per cent of days in the first nine months of 2024 were marked by extreme weather events, with Madhya Pradesh being the most affected. The greatest number of fatalities were reported from Kerala, as per a report released by the Centre of Science and Environment.
In the first nine months of this year, 255 out of 274 days were marked by heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rains, floods and landslides. These events claimed 3,238 lives, affected 3.2 million hectare (mha) of crops, destroyed 2,35,862 houses and buildings, and killed approximately 9,457 livestock.
In 2023, the first nine months recorded extreme weather on 235 of 273 days, with 2,923 deaths, 1.84 mha of crops affected, 80,293 houses damaged, and 92,519 animal deaths.
READ MORE: Wayanad landslides: We need to act with a long-term vision, says GSI official
The report’s authors caution that these numbers could be under-reported and that the actual number of events might have been much higher.
The report says Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather on 176 days—the most in the country. Kerala recorded the highest fatalities at 550, followed by Madhya Pradesh (353) and Assam (256). Andhra Pradesh had the most houses damaged (85,806), while Maharashtra, which saw extreme events on 142 days, accounted for over 60 per cent of the affected crop area nationwide, followed by Madhya Pradesh (25,170 ha).
Kerala saw lightning and storms; heavy rains, floods and landslides; and heatwaves. Madhya Pradesh experienced all these in addition to cyclones and cold waves.
While in central, east and north-eastern India, days of extreme weather events increased as did related losses; in the south, the number of deaths outstripped the combined number of the last two years. North-west India has seen an increase in the number of extreme weather incidents, but the losses have decreased.
The report highlights the need for a critical shift in our approach to extreme events—from disaster response to risk reduction and resilience-building.