India faced 93 percent days of extreme weather from January to September this year. Of the 255 days out of 274, India experienced extreme weather events marked by heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning, heavy rain, floods and landslides, almost every day in the first nine months of this year which claimed to  3,200 lives, affected 3.2 million hectare (mha) of crops, destroyed 235,862 houses and buildings, and killed approximately 9,457 livestock.

The report titled “Climate India 2024: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events” by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) , based on the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data has come days ahead of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan’s Baku from November 11 to 22.

Compared to this, the first nine months of 2023 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. The year 2024 also set several climate records. January was India’s ninth driest since 1901. In February, the country recorded its second-highest minimum temperature in 123 years.

May saw the fourth-highest mean temperature on record, and July, August and September all registered their highest minimum temperatures since 1901. In the Northwest, January was the second driest, and July recorded the region’s second-highest minimum temperature. The Southern Peninsula saw its hottest February ever, followed by exceptionally hot and dry March and April, but with a 36.5 percent surplus in July rainfall and the second-highest minimum temperature in August.

According to the report, between January and February, extreme weather events spanned 50 days, a sharp rise from 38 days in 2022 and 28 in 2023. Cold days and cold waves dominated, occurring on 38 days-a 17-day increase from the previous year.

Additionally, lightning and storms were recorded on 17 days, up from 5 days last year.

Between pre-Monsoon March and May, extreme weather events were recorded on 83 days, slightly lower than 2022 (85 days) and the same as 2023. Heatwaves occurred on 54 days in 2024, nearly double the 28 days in 2023. This increase contributed to a surge in fatalities, with 507 lives lost, compared to 321 the previous year.

And between June and September, extreme weather persisted across all 122 Monsoon days, as in 2023. However, deaths increased to 2,716, up from 2,594 in 2023 and 2,431 in 2022.

In terms of event types, the past nine months have seen everything from lightning and storms, spanning 32 states and resulting in 1,021 deaths, to relentless monsoon rains, which led to flooding across various regions. In Assam alone, heavy rains, floods and landslides were recorded in 122 days, leaving large parts of the state submerged and communities devastated. Nationwide, 1,376 lives were lost due to floods.

The report says that Madhya Pradesh experienced extreme weather for 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 nation-wide, followed by Madhya Pradesh (25,170 ha).

Regionally, Central India faced the highest frequency of extreme events with 218 days, followed closely by the Northwest at 213 days. In terms of lives lost, the Central region had the most deaths (1,001), followed by the Southern Peninsula (762 deaths), East and Northeast (741 deaths) and Northwest (734 deaths).

The report said the impact on agriculture has been severe, with extreme weather affecting at least 3.2 million hectares of cropped land in 2024, a 74 per cent increase from the 1.84 million hectares damaged in 2022. However, this number likely underestimates the true damage, as data from major agricultural states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana was unavailable.

The report also emphasises the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage. Climate models are clear: extreme weather events are set to become more frequent and severe.

Rajit Sengupta, who co-authored the report, said heatwaves claimed 210 lives but the data does not reflect the extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the well-being of people in North India, including farmers and labourers, who endured intense heat with little means of relief. “Similarly, the toll of severe cold snaps and frost on crop losses is not captured, highlighting the need for robust compensation systems for weather-induced losses.” Sengupta underlined without this support, farmers are pushed into debt, exacerbating their marginalisation and poverty.

Speaking at the launch of the report, CSE director general and Down To Earth editor Sunita Narain said: “These record-breaking statistics reflect climate change’s impact, where events that used to occur once every century are now happening every five years or even less. This frequency is overwhelming the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage.”

The report also emphasises the need for climate reparations from high-emission countries responsible for much of the damage. Climate models are clear: extreme weather events are set to become more frequent and severe.

Rajit Sengupta, who co-authored the report, said heatwaves claimed 210 lives but the data does not reflect the extended health impacts of prolonged high temperatures on the well-being of people in North India, including farmers and labourers, who endured intense heat with little means of relief. “Similarly, the toll of severe cold snaps and frost on crop losses is not captured, highlighting the need for robust compensation systems for weather-induced losses.” Sengupta underlined that without this support, farmers are pushed into debt, exacerbating their marginalisation and poverty.

Speaking at the launch of the report, CSE director general and Down To Earth editor Sunita Narain said: “These record-breaking statistics reflect climate change’s impact, where events that used to occur once every century are now happening every five years or even less. This frequency is overwhelming the most vulnerable populations, who lack the resources to adapt to this relentless cycle of loss and damage.”