Stampedes, war, plane crash, and floods: India's 2025 mid-year report paints a tragic picture
India faced a challenging six months. Stampedes at Kumbh Mela, New Delhi Railway Station, Bengaluru, and Puri caused many deaths. A terror attack occurred in Pahalgam. India and Pakistan had military confrontations. An Air India flight crashed in Ahmedabad. Floods and landslides affected northeastern India and Himachal Pradesh. These events resulted in numerous casualties, injuries, and displacement across the country.
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Stampedes kill scores at religious and public events
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India-Pakistan tensions
Air India flight crash
Floods and landslides
India has witnessed one of the most difficult six-month periods in recent memory. A series of deadly stampedes, an aviation disaster, military confrontation with Pakistan, and widespread flooding have left hundreds dead and many more injured or displaced. As the country steps into the second half of 2025, it carries the weight of these crises while bracing for what may come next. Kumbh Stampede : The year began with a tragedy at one of India's largest religious gatherings. On January 29, a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj killed 30 people and injured 60. The incident occurred around 2 am when large crowds were gathering at the Sangam. According to police, barricades placed at the ghats broke, causing people to step on devotees who were resting on the ground.Just weeks later, on February 15, 18 people were killed and 15 injured in a stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. The victims, mostly pilgrims heading to Prayagraj, were caught in chaos on platforms 12, 13, and 14. Delhi Police attributed the panic to delays and confusion between the Prayagraj Express and the Prayagraj Special trains amid overcrowding.On June 4, celebrations turned tragic in Bengaluru. After Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first IPL title, massive crowds gathered near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. A stampede occurred, killing 11 people and injuring 33 as lakhs of fans crowded the streets.Less than a month later, another stampede struck during the Rath Yatra in Puri on June 29. Three people died and more than 50 were injured. The incident raised new concerns about public safety at major events, especially after the Bengaluru tragedy.On April 22, 2025, five militants from The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, opened fire in the Baisaran meadows near Pahalgam tourist spot. They targeted 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, and 20 others were injured. The attackers used AK-47s and M4 carbines, reportedly questioning victims' religion before executing them. One local Muslim pony operator was also killed as he tried to interveneIn May, relations between India and Pakistan reached a critical point. A terror attack in Pahalgam prompted India to launch airstrikes on May 7. The operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. According to government sources, over 100 militants were killed.Pakistan responded by launching drones and missiles on Indian cities in Punjab and Rajasthan. The exchange escalated into a four-day conflict, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides. A ceasefire was reached on May 11, but tensions continue to simmer.On March 22, Air India flight AI 171 crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down in a residential area, hitting two buildings. The crash killed all 242 passengers and crew on board. It marked India's worst aviation accident in over a decade.Severe monsoon rains caused widespread flooding in northeastern India starting in late May. According to Sphere India, at least 47 people died due to floods and landslides — 17 in Assam, 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six each in Meghalaya and Mizoram, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura, and one in Nagaland.In Assam alone, more than four lakh people across 15 districts were affected, as per the state's disaster management authority. In Manipur, flash floods displaced over 56,000 people due to overflowing rivers and breached embankments.Meanwhile, from June 22 to 29, Himachal Pradesh saw flash floods that killed 17 people and caused heavy damage to roads and bridges. Early estimates by the state's Public Works Department placed the damage at Rs 300 crore. Northern states, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, continue to experience the impact of ongoing rains.
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