Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Dec 30 : Weather-related fatalities in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a sharp rise in 2025, making it one of the deadliest years in the Union Territory over the last decade, according to official disaster management data.
Data comparing extreme weather events (EWE) and deaths from 2010 to August 2025 shows that while the number of weather events has remained broadly consistent over the years, fatalities surged significantly in 2025, mainly due to floods, cloudbursts and landslides.
Nearly one out of every four people who lost their lives to extreme weather events in Jammu and Kashmir over the last 15 years died in 2025 alone.
Official data accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) shows that between 2010 and August 2025, the Union Territory recorded 856 weather-related deaths, of which 199 occurred this year.
This means 2025, though only one year in the 15 years, accounts for almost a quarter of all fatalities caused by floods, cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches and other extreme weather events, underscoring a sharp rise in the severity and impact of such disasters.
Between 2010 and 2024, annual deaths due to extreme weather events ranged between 25 and 72. The highest toll during this period was recorded in 2014, when 72 people died, followed by 2012 with 68 deaths and 2023 with 53 deaths.
In contrast, 2025 recorded 149 deaths till the end of August, with updated data shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs placing the toll at 199 by late December, the highest for any comparable period in the last 15 years.
The number of extreme weather events reported in 2025 till August stood at 224, comparable to previous years such as 2023 (234), 2021 (220) and 2014 (245).
However, the sharp increase in fatalities indicates a rise in the intensity and impact of such events.
Cause-wise data shows that flash floods and cloudbursts accounted for the highest number of deaths during the period under review, with 250 fatalities recorded between 2010 and August 2025.
Heavy snow and avalanches followed closely, with 241 deaths, while landslides claimed 162 lives.
Heavy rainfall alone resulted in 125 deaths, while thunderstorms and lightning caused 47 fatalities.
Windstorms accounted for 24 deaths, cold wave incidents led to seven deaths, while no deaths were reported due to heatwaves during this period.
District-wise data reveals that Kishtwar and Ramban recorded the highest cumulative fatalities between 2010 and August 2025, with 115 and 106 deaths, respectively.
Reasi reported 74 deaths, while Kupwara recorded 63 fatalities. Other districts with notable death tolls include Anantnag (47), Bandipora (43), Jammu (36), Rajouri (33) and Leh (33).
Samba recorded the lowest number of deaths at four during the period.
Officials said the Jammu division accounted for a disproportionate number of deaths in 2025, particularly during the monsoon months, due to repeated cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides.
Over the 15 years from 2010 to August 2025, Jammu and Kashmir recorded a total of 3,473 extreme weather events, resulting in 856 deaths—(KNO)
