On Tuesday, the Centre revealed in the Lok Sabha that hydro-meteorological disasters claimed the lives of 2,936 individuals across India in 2024. Himachal Pradesh was the hardest hit, with the state reporting the highest number of casualties. The devastating impact of these disasters, including floods, landslides, and other weather-related events, underscored the vulnerability of certain regions to extreme climate events.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai reported that the highest death toll from hydro-meteorological disasters was recorded in Himachal Pradesh, with 408 lives lost. Following closely were Madhya Pradesh with 373 fatalities, Kerala at 355, Gujarat with 230, and Maharashtra, which saw 206 deaths. Rai also highlighted that other states were severely affected, with Karnataka losing 185 lives, Rajasthan 131, Assam 128, and Chhattisgarh 125. These figures paint a grim picture of the widespread devastation caused by extreme weather events across the country.
Since the Union Home Ministry does not keep centralized records of damage from disasters like floods and landslides, Minister Nityanand Rai shared the data based on information gathered from various state governments and Union Territories. This data detailed the extent of the damage caused by hydro-meteorological disasters, offering insights into the scale of destruction and the challenges faced by affected regions. The statistics were compiled from reports provided by the respective states and UTs.
According to Nityanand Rai, a total of 3,63,381 houses and huts were damaged across the country due to hydro-meteorological disasters, while 61,826 cattle were also lost. He highlighted that Assam faced the most severe destruction, with 1,56,691 houses affected. Tripura saw 67,487 homes damaged, where 78 people also lost their lives, while Manipur reported 29,369 damaged houses and 11 fatalities. Karnataka and Gujarat were also hit hard, with 22,414 and 20,741 houses damaged, respectively. These figures underscore the widespread devastation caused by extreme weather events across various states.
Rai emphasized that according to the National Policy on Disaster Management, the primary responsibility for managing disasters and providing relief lies with the respective state governments. He explained that state governments use the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to carry out relief operations following natural calamities, adhering to the guidelines and norms set by the Centre. While the state governments lead these efforts, the central government plays a supportive role, offering additional logistical and financial assistance to help bolster the states’ disaster response initiatives.
Rai also highlighted the provision of additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for disasters deemed “severe in nature.” This assistance is based on assessments made by Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs), which visit affected areas. He noted that as of January 27, 14 IMCTs had been deployed to states and Union Territories including Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram, Kerala, Nagaland, Tripura, Gujarat, Telangana, West Bengal, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. These teams are tasked with conducting on-site evaluations of the damage caused by natural disasters in 2024. The findings of the IMCTs are then reviewed by the central government in accordance with established procedures for providing further support.
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